October Term 2021 · Docket 20-979
Can courts review an agency's finding that an immigrant is ineligible for status adjustment?
The dispute centers on whether a statutory bar blocks judicial review of an agency's initial finding that an immigrant lacks eligibility for status adjustment.
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. Fleming argued that the government agrees the statutory bar does not block review of the agency's threshold determination of ineligibility.
Mr. Raynor argued that the statute precludes review of any judgment regarding the granting of relief under specific provisions.
Ms. Meehan argued that an alternative meaning of judgment still bars review in this specific case.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 33-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 11-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 11-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 15-45 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 15-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 90, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 90, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 35-9
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of a statutory bar on judicial review. The bar targets decisions regarding the granting of relief. The core question is whether this bar covers the agency's threshold finding that an immigrant is ineligible for status adjustment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 33-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 11-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 11-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 35-9
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 6, 2021.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-25
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants a court to review the agency's finding that he is ineligible for status adjustment.
The government wants the court to uphold the statutory bar that prevents review of that finding.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 33-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 11-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 11-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 35-9
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the statutory bar does not cover the agency's threshold determination of ineligibility.
The government argues the statutory bar precludes review of any judgment regarding the granting of relief.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 33-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 11-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 11-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 35-9
What the justices asked
Justice Barrett asked how the side that brought the case responds to the argument that the jurisdictional bar has little work to do if all preliminary determinations are reviewable.
Justice Kagan asked whether the phrase judgment regarding the granting of relief is a term of art in immigration statutes or has an ordinary meaning.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 15-45 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 15-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 90, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 90, lines 25-29
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary of judicial oversight over immigration agency decisions. It determines whether courts can correct errors in the initial eligibility screening process. The outcome shapes the balance between agency discretion and individual rights in immigration law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 33-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 11-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 11-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 35-9
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 11, lines 33-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 15-45 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 15-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 90, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 90, lines 25-29
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 32, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 33-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 11-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 11-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 33-31 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 33-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 11-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 11-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 35-9
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.