October Term 2020 · Docket 20-334
Who decides appellate costs when a court splits its ruling?
San Antonio argues the district court must decide costs. Hotels.com argues the appellate court must decide them.
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. Geyser argued the district court should decide costs.
Mr. Salmons argued the appellate court must decide costs.
chief_justice_roberts_noted_courts_follow_different_practices.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 43-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 13-45 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 13-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 35-41
- 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 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 21-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-23 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 25-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 9-43 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 9-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-33
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on which court decides who pays appellate costs when a panel splits its ruling.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 21-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 43-7
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 21, 2021.
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 69, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 55-9
What each side wants
San Antonio wants the district court to decide costs after the mandate issues.
Hotels.com wants the appellate court to decide costs immediately.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 21-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 43-7
What each side says
San Antonio argues Rule 39 delegates cost decisions to the district court.
Hotels.com argues Rule 39 assigns cost decisions to the appellate court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 21-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 43-7
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked why San Antonio did not object earlier.
Justice Alito asked if courts can apportion costs proportionately.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 43-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 13-45 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 13-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-23 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 25-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 9-43 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 9-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-33
Why it matters
This case defines which court controls cost allocation in split appellate decisions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 21-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 43-7
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 53-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 43-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 13-45 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 13-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-23 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 25-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 9-43 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 9-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-33
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 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 21-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 21-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 43-7
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.