October Term 2020 · Docket 19-1442
Must claimants raise ALJ appointment flaws before the agency?
the sides that brought the case seek judicial review of ALJ appointment flaws. The government demands prior agency exhaustion.
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
Ms. Harris argued claimants do not need to challenge ALJ appointments before the agency.
Mr. Raynor argued claimants forfeit issues not raised during agency proceedings.
Justice Alito asked how the government accounts for wasted time and money.
Justice Alito suggested ALJs should reconsider cases under their new appointment status.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 49-49 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 49-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 53-45 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 53-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-55 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-55
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether Social Security claimants must challenge ALJ appointment flaws before the agency. the sides that brought the case argue they can raise this issue in district court. The government argues claimants must raise it during agency proceedings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 53-45 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 53-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 39-39
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 3, 2021.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-47
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want to raise ALJ appointment flaws in district court.
The government wants claimants to raise these flaws before the agency.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 53-45 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 53-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 39-39
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue claimants need not exhaust this issue before the agency.
The government argues claimants forfeit issues not raised during agency proceedings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 53-45 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 53-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 39-39
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the ALJ hearing is the first step for all issues.
Chief Justice Roberts asked what prevents claimants from raising new injuries in district court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 49-49 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 49-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-55 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-55
Why it matters
This dispute determines whether claimants can challenge ALJ appointments in court. It affects the efficiency of the Social Security system. It impacts taxpayer resources and claimant wait times.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 53-45 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 53-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 39-39
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 11-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 49-49 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 49-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-55 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-55
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 34, lines 53-45 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 53-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 53-45 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 53-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 39-39
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.