October Term 2021 · Docket 21-588
Can the federal government sue to stop a state law that bypasses federal courts?
The federal government argues Texas law defies federal supremacy. Texas argues the law targets only specific conduct.
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
General Prelogar argued Texas designed the law to thwart federal supremacy.
Mr. Mitchell argued the intervenors only sue for conduct outside Roe and Casey.
Justice Kagan asked if the Court can craft relief in unprecedented circumstances.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 33-53 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 33-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 25-51 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 25-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 27-51 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 27-51
- 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 53, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 27-47 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 27-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 37-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 37-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-35 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 7-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 15-17
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on whether the federal government can sue to block a state law. The government claims the law defies federal authority. Texas claims the law targets specific conduct outside federal protection.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 15-17
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 1, 2021.
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 65, lines 27-47 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 27-47
What each side wants
The federal government wants a court order stopping the state law.
Texas wants the court to dismiss the federal lawsuit.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 15-17
What each side says
The federal government argues the state law defies federal supremacy.
Texas argues the law targets conduct outside federal protection.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 15-17
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked how an injunction applies to a state entity.
Justice Thomas asked for examples of similar federal actions based on Debs.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 33-53 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 33-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 25-51 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 25-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 27-51 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 27-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 27-47 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 27-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 37-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 37-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-35 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 7-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-41
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of federal power over state laws. It determines how courts handle conflicts between federal and state authority. The outcome shapes the balance of power in the constitutional system.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 15-17
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 9-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 33-53 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 33-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 25-51 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 25-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 27-51 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 27-51
- 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 19-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 27-47 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 27-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 37-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 37-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-35 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 7-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-41
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 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 15-17
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.