October Term 2021 · Docket 20-603
Does sovereign immunity block USERRA claims against Texas?
the sides that brought the case seek to sue Texas for USERRA violations. Texas claims sovereign immunity bars the suit.
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. Tutt argued the Constitution grants Congress power to raise armies.
Mr. Stone argued sovereign immunity limits means, not ends.
questions_and_argument_context
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 39-21 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 39-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 55-53 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 55-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 53-13 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-55 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 53-55
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether sovereign immunity blocks USERRA claims against a state.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 39-21 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 39-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 55-53 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 55-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-9
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 29, 2022.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-25
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want to sue Texas for USERRA violations.
Texas wants the court to dismiss the suit.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 39-21 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 39-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 55-53 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 55-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-9
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue USERRA advances essential constitutional military powers.
Texas argues sovereign immunity limits congressional means.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 39-21 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 39-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 55-53 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 55-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-9
What the justices asked
Justice Barrett asked how eminent domain ties to judicial proceedings.
Justice Kagan asked why war powers differ from other powers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 53-13 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-55 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 53-55
Why it matters
The outcome defines state liability for federal employment protections.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 39-21 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 39-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 55-53 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 55-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-9
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 11-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 53-13 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-55 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 53-55
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 106, lines 39-21 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 39-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 55-53 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 55-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 39-21 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 39-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 55-53 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 55-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-9
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.