October Term 2019 · Docket 18-1023
Does the Appropriations Clause bar private damages claims against the government?
the sides that brought the case seek damages for broken government promises. The government argues the Constitution bars such claims.
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 government engaged in a bait-and-switch scheme.
He claimed the government must keep its word after inducing reliance.
He stated the government treats similar payment language as mandatory in other contexts.
Mr. Kneedler argued the Appropriations Clause is a central constitutional command.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 30-30 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 30-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 32-32 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 32-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-54 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 52-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 24-44 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 24-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 44-16 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 44-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 18-24 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 18-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 10-52 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 10-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-32 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 34-54 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 34-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-42 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 34-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 14-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 50-14
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of the Appropriations Clause. It asks if this clause blocks private lawsuits for government debts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 10-52 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 10-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-32 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 34-54 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 34-54
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 10, 2019.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 6-8
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to allow their damages claims against the government.
The government wants the Court to dismiss these claims under the Appropriations Clause.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 10-52 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 10-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-32 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 34-54 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 34-54
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the government must honor its money-mandating promises to protect reliance.
The government argues the Appropriations Clause strictly forbids paying money without specific appropriations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 10-52 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 10-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-32 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 34-54 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 34-54
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if insurance companies should have known the law barred their claims.
Justice Kagan asked if the phrase shall pay is sufficient in all cases to create a claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 30-30 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 30-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 32-32 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 32-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-54 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 52-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 24-44 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 24-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 44-16 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 44-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 18-24 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 18-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-42 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 34-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 14-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 50-14
Why it matters
This dispute defines the limits of government financial liability. It determines whether private parties can sue for broken promises. The outcome shapes future interactions between citizens and the state.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 10-52 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 10-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-32 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 34-54 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 34-54
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 30-30 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 30-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 32-32 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 32-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-54 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 52-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 24-44 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 24-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 44-16 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 44-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 18-24 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 18-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-42 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 34-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 14-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 50-14
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 10-52 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 10-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-32 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 34-54 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 34-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 10-52 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 10-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-32 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 34-54 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 34-54
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.