October Term 2020 · Docket 19-71
Can individuals sue federal employees for personal damages under RFRA?
the sides that brought the case seek to block personal liability claims. the opposing sides demand monetary compensation for religious harm.
Verified source milestones
- — 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
Mr. Kneedler argued RFRA does not create personal damages liability.
Mr. Kassem argued RFRA requires damages for specific religious harms.
questions_detail
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 26-36 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 26-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 32-16 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 32-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 28-10 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 28-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 20-10 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 20-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 34-42 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 34-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 22-52 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 22-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-26 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 34-44
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether RFRA allows private damages suits against federal workers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-10
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 6, 2020.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-20
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to bar personal damages claims against federal employees.
the opposing sides want the Court to allow personal damages claims against federal employees.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-10
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue RFRA only authorizes relief against the government itself.
the opposing sides argue RFRA requires a remedy for consummated religious injuries.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-10
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked if Congress originally intended RFRA to apply to states.
Justice Sotomayor asked if injunctive relief against contractors binds the government.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 26-36 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 26-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 32-16 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 32-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 28-10 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 28-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 20-10 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 20-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 34-42 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 34-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 22-52 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 22-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-26 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 34-44
Why it matters
This dispute determines whether federal workers face personal financial liability for religious violations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-10
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 26-36 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 26-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 32-16 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 32-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 28-10 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 28-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 20-10 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 20-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 34-42 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 34-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 22-52 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 22-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-26 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 34-44
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 20-34 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-10
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.