October Term 2018 · Docket 18-525
Does a missed filing deadline strip courts of power to hear discrimination claims?
Fort Bend County argues a missed deadline bars the case. Davis argues the deadline is a procedural rule.
Verified source milestones
- — 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
Sinzdak argued the deadline shifts power to the judiciary.
Bond argued the deadline is not jurisdictional under clear rules.
Melkonian argued statutory limits are not jurisdictional without clear text.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-6 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-6
- 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 21-26 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-12 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 7-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 12-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 12-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 36-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 10-33 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 10-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 22-30
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether a missed filing deadline ends a discrimination lawsuit.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 10-33 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 10-33
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 22, 2019.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-15
What each side wants
Fort Bend County wants the court to dismiss the case.
Davis wants the court to hear her discrimination claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 10-33 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 10-33
What each side says
Fort Bend County argues the deadline is a strict jurisdictional bar.
Davis argues the deadline is a procedural rule, not a bar.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 10-33 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 10-33
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if the court reviews agency actions.
Justice Ginsburg asked how this differs from copyright registration rules.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-6 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-6
- 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 21-26 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-12 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 7-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 12-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 12-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 36-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 22-30
Why it matters
This dispute defines when courts lose power to hear discrimination claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 10-33 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 10-33
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 10-16 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-6 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-6
- 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 21-26 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-12 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 7-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 12-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 12-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 36-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 22-30
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 31, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 10-33 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 10-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 10-33 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 10-33
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.