October Term 2019 · Docket 18-1171
Does Section 1981 require but-for causation?
The parties dispute whether race must be the primary cause of a contract denial.
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
Ms. Ratner stated the Ninth Circuit found any role suffices.
Mr. Chemerinsky argued statutory language implies but-for causation.
Justice Kagan questioned whether the opposing sides must prove but-for causation.
Chief Justice Roberts suggested the legal distinction might be academic.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 46-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 12-42 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 12-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 48-8 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 48-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-48 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 16-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 42-42 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 42-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 54-52 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 54-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 54-6 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 54-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 48-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 48-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-36 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 8-36
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Comcast seeks to overturn a Ninth Circuit ruling. The media association wants to keep that ruling intact.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 42-42 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 42-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 54-52 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 54-52
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 13, 2019.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 54-6 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 54-6
What each side wants
Comcast wants the Court to require but-for causation.
The media association wants to keep the any-role standard.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 42-42 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 42-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 54-52 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 54-52
What each side says
Comcast argues the statute requires race to be the primary cause.
The association argues race need only play some role in the decision.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 42-42 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 42-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 54-52 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 54-52
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked if the Ninth Circuit was wrong on causation.
Chief Justice Roberts wondered if the distinction is academic.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 46-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 12-42 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 12-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 48-8 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 48-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-48 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 16-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 54-6 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 54-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 48-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 48-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-36 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 8-36
Why it matters
This case defines the proof standard for racial discrimination claims. It determines how plaintiffs must prove bias in contracting disputes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 42-42 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 42-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 54-52 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 54-52
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 16-18 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 46-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 12-42 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 12-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 48-8 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 48-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-48 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 16-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 54-6 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 54-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 48-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 48-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-36 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 8-36
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 22, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 42-42 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 42-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 54-52 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 54-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 42-42 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 42-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 54-52 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 54-52
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.