October Term 2018 · Docket 18-389
Does California Wage Law Apply on the Outer Continental Shelf?
Parker Drilling argues federal law preempts state wage rules. Newton claims California law applies to offshore workers.
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
Parker Drilling asserts federal sovereignty over the continental shelf.
Newton contends the plain language of federal statutes supports state law application.
questions_detail
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-20 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-25 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 20-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 20-21 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 20-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 26-27 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 26-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 21-22 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 21-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 26-26 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 26-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 27-8 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 27-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 25-30 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 25-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-32 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-6 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 22-6
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether state wage laws bind employers on the Outer Continental Shelf. The dispute centers on the interaction between federal statutes and state labor codes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 26-26 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 26-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 27-8 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 27-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 25-30 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 25-30
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 16, 2019.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-32 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-32
What each side wants
Parker Drilling wants the Court to reject state wage law application.
Newton wants the Court to uphold the state law application.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 26-26 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 26-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 27-8 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 27-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 25-30 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 25-30
What each side says
Parker Drilling argues federal sovereignty preempts state wage rules.
Newton argues state law applies and does not conflict with federal law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 26-26 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 26-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 27-8 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 27-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 25-30 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 25-30
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if federal enclaves exist inside California.
Justice Kagan asked if preexisting state law applies in this context.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-20 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-25 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 20-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 20-21 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 20-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 26-27 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 26-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 21-22 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 21-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-32 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-6 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 22-6
Why it matters
The outcome defines which wage rules govern offshore workers. It clarifies the boundary between federal and state labor authority.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 26-26 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 26-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 27-8 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 27-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 25-30 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 25-30
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 7-20 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-25 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 20-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 20-21 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 20-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 26-27 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 26-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 21-22 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 21-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-32 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-6 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 22-6
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 23, lines 26-26 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 26-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 27-8 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 27-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 25-30 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 25-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 26-26 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 26-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 27-8 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 27-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 25-30 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 25-30
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.