October Term 2021 · Docket 20-303
Does Puerto Rico's unique tax status justify excluding residents from federal disability benefits?
Puerto Rico residents argue that excluding them from Supplemental Security Income violates equal protection. The government argues their distinct tax status provides a rational basis for the exclusion.
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. Gannon argued the Territory Clause has no expiration date.
Mr. Ferre noted that moving to Puerto Rico strips residents of federal voting rights.
justice_questions
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-53 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-37
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether Congress can deny federal disability benefits to Puerto Rico residents. The dispute centers on the rational basis for this exclusion.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-35
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 9, 2021.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-37
What each side wants
The government wants the Court to uphold the exclusion of Puerto Rico residents from federal disability benefits.
the side that brought the case wants the Court to strike down the exclusion as a violation of equal protection.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-35
What each side says
The government argues Puerto Rico's unique tax status provides a rational basis for the exclusion.
the side that brought the case argues the exclusion lacks a rational basis and violates equal protection principles.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-35
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked if the Territory Clause provides sufficient authority for the government's action.
Justice Sotomayor asked if excluding a state based on cost would pass equal protection review.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-53 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-37
Why it matters
This case determines whether federal disability benefits must extend to all U.S. territories. It defines the scope of equal protection for residents without full voting representation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-35
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 25-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-53 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-37
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 25-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-35
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.