October Term 2019 · Docket 18-916
Can courts review a patent director's late denial of a challenge?
Thryv argues the law bars judicial review of the director's late denial. Click-To-Call argues courts must review that decision.
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
Thryv's counsel argued the statute's text and history bar review.
Click-To-Call's counsel called the opposing argument extraordinary.
Justice Gorsuch questioned the practical implications of barring review.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 53-29 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 53-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-49
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on whether federal courts can review a specific patent office decision. Thryv seeks to block that review. Click-To-Call seeks to allow it.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 53-29 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 53-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 23-11
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 9, 2019.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-37
What each side wants
Thryv wants courts to refuse review of the director's late denial.
Click-To-Call wants courts to review the director's late denial.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 53-29 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 53-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 23-11
What each side says
Thryv argues the statute explicitly bars judicial review of this specific decision.
Click-To-Call argues the presumption of judicial review requires court oversight.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 53-29 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 53-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 23-11
What the justices asked
Justice Gorsuch asked how the system works if the decision is not reviewable.
Justice Gorsuch asked what role the presumption of judicial review plays here.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-49
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of judicial oversight over patent office decisions. It determines whether patent holders can challenge late administrative denials in court. The outcome shapes the balance between agency finality and judicial accountability.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 53-29 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 53-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 23-11
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 17-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-49
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 16, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 53-29 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 53-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 53-29 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 53-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 23-11
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.