October Term 2021 · Docket 20-1775
Can States Intervene to Defend a Federal Rule After the Government Stops?
Arizona and other states want to defend a public charge rule. San Francisco argues they lack standing to do so.
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
Brnovich argued the Ninth Circuit capped an unprecedented effort by the United States.
Fletcher argued the rule did not regulate or confer rights on the states.
Fletcher argued the states assert an indirect economic interest in the rule's consequences.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 35-33 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 35-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-19
- 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 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 41-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 11-7 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 11-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-11
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on whether states can intervene in federal court. They seek to defend a rule the current administration no longer supports.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 35-33 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 35-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 11-7 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 11-7
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 23, 2022.
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 77, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 41-19
What each side wants
Arizona wants to intervene and defend the public charge rule.
San Francisco wants the court to deny the states standing to intervene.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 35-33 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 35-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 11-7 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 11-7
What each side says
Arizona argues the states have a direct interest in the rule's validity.
San Francisco argues the states only have an indirect economic interest.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 35-33 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 35-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 11-7 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 11-7
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked what makes this case different from other administration changes.
Justice Sotomayor asked if the injunction was a decision on the merits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-11
Why it matters
This case defines when states can defend federal rules. It affects the balance of power between states and the federal government.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 35-33 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 35-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 11-7 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 11-7
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 15-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-19
- 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 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 41-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-11
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 100, lines 35-33 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 35-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 11-7 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 11-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 35-33 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 35-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 11-7 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 11-7
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.