October Term 2018 · Docket 17-1272
Who decides if a contract dispute goes to arbitration?
Schein argues courts must enforce delegation clauses. Archer argues courts must first verify the contract exists.
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
Schein's lawyer argued the FAA mandates enforcing delegation clauses.
Archer's lawyer argued the FAA's plain language contradicts Schein's view.
Justice Sotomayor questioned the lack of statutory remedies for groundless claims.
Justice Ginsburg questioned how Schein claims benefits from an agreement it did not make.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-15 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 14-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-9 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 20-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 20-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 20-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 20-21 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 20-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 25-28 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 25-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 9-10 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 9-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 24-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 24-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 20-25 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 20-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 28-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 28-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 10-13 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 10-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 24-25 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 24-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 24-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 24-32
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on who decides if a contract is valid enough to force arbitration. Schein wants arbitrators to decide this. Archer wants courts to decide it first.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 24-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 24-19
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 29, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 24-25 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 24-25
What each side wants
Schein wants arbitrators to decide if the contract exists.
Archer wants courts to decide if the contract exists.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 24-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 24-19
What each side says
Schein argues the FAA requires enforcing delegation clauses.
Archer argues courts must verify the contract first.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 24-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 24-19
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if the statute lacks a remedy for groundless claims.
Justice Ginsburg asked how Schein benefits from an agreement it did not make.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-15 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 14-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-9 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 20-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 20-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 20-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 20-21 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 20-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 25-28 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 25-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 9-10 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 9-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 20-25 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 20-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 28-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 28-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 10-13 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 10-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 24-25 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 24-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 24-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 24-32
Why it matters
This case defines the power of arbitrators versus courts. It determines who decides if a contract is valid. It affects every business with an arbitration clause. It shapes the balance of power in commercial disputes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 24-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 24-19
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 11, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-15 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 14-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-9 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 20-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 20-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 20-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 20-21 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 20-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 25-28 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 25-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 9-10 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 9-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 20-25 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 20-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 28-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 28-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 10-13 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 10-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 24-25 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 24-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 24-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 24-32
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 32, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 24-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 24-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 24-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 24-19
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.