October Term 2020 · Docket 19-1434
Can the President remove administrative patent judges?
Arthrex argues these judges lack proper presidential oversight. The government claims current supervision satisfies the Constitution.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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
Mr. Stewart argued the director’s review power satisfies constitutional requirements.
Mr. Lamken argued the judges act as the executive’s final word.
Mr. Perry argued the government relies on a misread precedent.
Justice Roberts questioned whether the director truly controls final outcomes.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 32-22 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 32-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 54-38 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 54-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 24-54 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 24-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 28-42 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 28-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 44-56 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 44-56
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 54-36 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 54-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 20-14 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 20-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 40-34 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 40-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 48-42 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 48-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 54-10 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 54-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 30-14 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 30-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 54-10 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 54-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 48-44 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 48-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 46-22 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 46-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 46-54 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 46-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 20-46 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 20-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 32-42 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 32-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 92, lines 24-22 — Transcript, file page 92, lines 24-22
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether administrative patent judges are inferior officers. This status affects who controls their removal.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 20-14 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 20-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 40-34 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 40-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 92, lines 24-22 — Transcript, file page 92, lines 24-22
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 1, 2021.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 54-10 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 54-10
What each side wants
Arthrex wants the Court to declare the judges removable by the President.
The government wants the Court to uphold the current director review process.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 20-14 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 20-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 40-34 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 40-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 92, lines 24-22 — Transcript, file page 92, lines 24-22
What each side says
Arthrex argues the director lacks sufficient control over final decisions.
The government argues the director’s review power satisfies constitutional requirements.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 20-14 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 20-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 40-34 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 40-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 92, lines 24-22 — Transcript, file page 92, lines 24-22
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked how to define substantial supervision.
Justice Gorsuch asked how current rules fit prior precedent on control.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 32-22 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 32-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 54-38 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 54-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 24-54 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 24-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 28-42 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 28-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 44-56 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 44-56
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 54-36 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 54-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 48-42 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 48-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 54-10 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 54-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 30-14 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 30-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 54-10 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 54-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 48-44 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 48-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 46-22 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 46-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 46-54 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 46-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 20-46 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 20-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 32-42 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 32-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 16-24
Why it matters
This dispute defines presidential power over administrative agencies. It shapes how the executive branch manages patent disputes. It impacts the structure of federal adjudication.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 20-14 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 20-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 40-34 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 40-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 92, lines 24-22 — Transcript, file page 92, lines 24-22
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 32-22 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 32-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 54-38 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 54-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 24-54 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 24-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 28-42 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 28-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 44-56 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 44-56
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 54-36 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 54-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 48-42 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 48-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 54-10 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 54-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 30-14 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 30-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 54-10 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 54-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 48-44 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 48-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 46-22 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 46-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 46-54 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 46-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 20-46 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 20-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 32-42 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 32-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 16-24
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 20-14 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 20-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 40-34 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 40-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 92, lines 24-22 — Transcript, file page 92, lines 24-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 20-14 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 20-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 40-34 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 40-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 92, lines 24-22 — Transcript, file page 92, lines 24-22
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.