October Term 2021 · Docket 20-1143
Do federal courts hear motions to confirm arbitration awards?
Parties dispute whether federal courts hold jurisdiction over motions to confirm or vacate arbitration awards.
Verified source milestones
- — 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
the side that brought the case argues the FAA text controls the outcome.
the opposing side argues the FAA treats award motions as underlying disputes.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-1 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 27-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 45-47
- 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 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-45
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of federal court jurisdiction under the Federal Arbitration Act.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 2, 2021.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants state courts to hear these motions.
the opposing side wants federal courts to hear these motions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the FAA text limits federal jurisdiction.
the opposing side argues federal courts have jurisdiction over underlying disputes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked when Sections 9 and 10 grant federal jurisdiction.
Justice Kavanaugh asked about the historical understanding of the Act.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-1 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 27-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-45
Why it matters
This dispute determines which courts handle arbitration enforcement motions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
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 15-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-1 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 27-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 21-25
- 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 19-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-45
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 33, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
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.