October Term 2017 · Docket 17-130
Do SEC hearing officers count as appointed officials?
the sides that brought the case argue SEC hearing officers are appointed officials. The Commission says they are not.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
the sides that brought the case claim SEC hearing officers hold sovereign power.
The Commission argues these officers do not bind the government.
Justice Sotomayor questioned the definition of adversarial proceedings.
Justice Kennedy asked about the impact on other agencies.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 43-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 43-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-31
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether SEC hearing officers are appointed officials. the sides that brought the case say they hold sovereign power. The Commission says they do not.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 43-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 43-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-45
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 23, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 17-33
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to classify SEC hearing officers as appointed officials.
The Commission wants the Court to classify SEC hearing officers as non-officials.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 43-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 43-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-45
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue these officers bind the government in formal adjudications.
The Commission argues these officers lack the power to bind the government.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 43-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 43-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-45
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if this theory affects Social Security hearing officers.
Justice Sotomayor asked for a definition of adversarial proceedings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-31
Why it matters
This case defines who holds sovereign power in federal agencies. It shapes the structure of administrative adjudication nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 43-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 43-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-45
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-31
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 43-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 43-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 43-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 43-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-45
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.