October Term 2021 · Docket 21-248
Can state legislators intervene in federal court to defend a law?
North Carolina legislators seek to join a federal suit challenging a voter ID law. State officials oppose their participation.
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. Thompson argued North Carolina law designates state officers as necessary parties.
Ms. Boyce argued the Attorney General adequately represents the state's interest.
Justice Sotomayor questioned the adequacy of the Attorney General's representation.
Chief Justice Roberts asked about political disagreements between state representatives.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-55 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 17-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 21-35
- 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 23-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-55 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-47
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
North Carolina law names state officers as necessary parties in legal challenges to state statutes. the sides that brought the case argue this law grants them a right to intervene in federal court. the opposing sides argue the Attorney General adequately represents the state's interest. The Court must decide if state law creates a federal right to intervene.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-55 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-49
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 21, 2022.
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 71, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 19-23
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to allow them to join the federal lawsuit.
the opposing sides want the Court to keep the legislators out of the federal case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-55 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-49
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue state law makes them necessary parties in all statutory challenges.
the opposing sides argue the Attorney General adequately defends the state's legal position.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-55 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-49
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if state law could grant specific officers intervention rights.
Justice Sotomayor asked why the Attorney General cannot represent the legislators' interest.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-55 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 17-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-47
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of state legislative power in federal courts. It determines whether state statutes can create federal procedural rights. The outcome shapes how states defend their laws against constitutional challenges.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-55 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-49
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 47-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-55 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 17-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-47
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 38, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-55 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-55 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-49
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.