October Term 2021 · Docket 21-147
Can a citizen sue a federal border agent for damages?
The dispute centers on whether federal courts can create new damages remedies for constitutional violations.
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
Ms. Harris argued that the Court should not expand Bivens for the first time in 40 years.
Ms. Ellsworth argued that the claim is materially indistinguishable from Bivens itself.
Mr. Huston argued that a straightforward application of Bivens precedents supports reversing the judgment.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 27-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 49-17
- 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 42, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 41-15 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 41-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 53-13 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 53-13 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 51-45 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 51-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-19
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of Bivens remedies. The Court must decide if federal courts can authorize new damages suits against federal agents.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 51-45 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 51-45
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 2, 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 67, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 17-25
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to reverse the lower court judgment.
the opposing side wants the Court to affirm the lower court judgment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 51-45 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 51-45
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues that Bivens extensions clash with modern precedent.
the opposing side argues that the claim is indistinguishable from Bivens.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 51-45 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 51-45
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked why the Fourth Amendment claim does not foreclose the argument.
Justice Sotomayor asked what special factor exists at the border for Customs agents.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 27-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 41-15 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 41-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 53-13 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 53-13 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-19
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of federal court jurisdiction over damages claims. It determines whether citizens can sue federal agents for constitutional violations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 51-45 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 51-45
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 13-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 27-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-31
- 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 66, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 41-15 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 41-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 53-13 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 53-13 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-19
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 24, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 51-45 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 51-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 51-45 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 51-45
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.