October Term 2018 · Docket 18-281
Can a state legislature sue to defend its redistricting plan?
Virginia legislators claim the state attorney general wrongly refused to appeal a federal court order. They argue the House has standing to defend its own redistricting plan.
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
Paul Clement argued the House is the only sovereign harmed by the ruling.
He stated the Court is being asked to referee a state government dispute.
Clement noted the 2011 plan had overwhelming bipartisan support.
He claimed the plan received swift federal preclearance before the lawsuit began.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 10-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 10-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-26 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 22-27 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 22-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 30-17 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 30-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 10-13 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 10-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 28-27 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 28-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 22-32 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 22-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 26-10 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 26-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-26 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 34-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 34-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-34 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 36-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 36-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 18-23 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 18-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-27
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
A federal court struck down Virginia's redistricting plan. The state attorney general declined to appeal. The House of Delegates sued to defend the plan itself.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 22-32 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 22-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 26-10 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 26-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-26 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 34-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 34-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-34 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-34
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 18, 2019.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-15
What each side wants
The House wants the Court to allow it to appeal the lower court decision.
The challengers want the Court to deny the House standing to sue.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 22-32 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 22-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 26-10 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 26-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-26 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 34-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 34-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-34 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-34
What each side says
The House argues it is a sovereign entity harmed by the ruling.
The challengers argue only the state attorney general can represent Virginia in court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 22-32 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 22-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 26-10 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 26-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-26 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 34-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 34-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-34 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-34
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if Virginia law allows the House to represent the state.
Justice Sotomayor asked if the Court is removing the people's right to choose their representative.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 10-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 10-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-26 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 22-27 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 22-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 30-17 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 30-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 10-13 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 10-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 28-27 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 28-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 36-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 36-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 18-23 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 18-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-27
Why it matters
This case defines who can defend state legislative actions in federal court. It clarifies the power of state legislatures to act independently against their own executive branch.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 22-32 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 22-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 26-10 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 26-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-26 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 34-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 34-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-34 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-34
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 10-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 10-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-26 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 22-27 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 22-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 30-17 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 30-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 10-13 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 10-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 28-27 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 28-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 36-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 36-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 18-23 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 18-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-27
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 28, lines 22-32 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 22-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 26-10 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 26-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-26 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 34-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 34-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-34 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 22-32 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 22-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 26-10 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 26-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-26 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 34-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 34-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-34 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-34
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.