October Term 2021 · Docket 21A240
Can the government force healthcare workers to get vaccinated?
Missouri argues the mandate exceeds federal power. The government says it protects vulnerable patients.
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. Fletcher argued that healthcare settings are conducive to virus spread.
Mr. Osete argued that healthcare workers face job loss if they refuse the mandate.
justice_questions
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 40-52 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 40-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 32-42 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 32-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 46-6 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 46-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 42-28 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 42-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 26-40 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 26-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 48-6 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 48-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 30-30 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 30-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 36-18 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 36-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 30-38 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 30-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 42-14 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 42-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 32-38 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 32-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 30-50 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 30-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 16-30 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 16-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 38-1 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 38-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 46-52 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 46-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 54-1 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 54-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 30-44 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 30-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 48-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 48-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 52-8 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 52-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 90, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 90, lines 14-18
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of federal authority over private healthcare employers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 48-6 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 48-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 54-1 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 54-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 90, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 90, lines 14-18
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 7, 2022.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 16-30 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 16-30
What each side wants
Missouri wants the Court to strike down the vaccine mandate.
The government wants the Court to uphold the vaccine mandate.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 48-6 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 48-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 54-1 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 54-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 90, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 90, lines 14-18
What each side says
Missouri argues the government lacks legal authority to force private employers to mandate vaccines.
The government argues the mandate is necessary to protect vulnerable patients in healthcare settings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 48-6 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 48-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 54-1 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 54-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 90, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 90, lines 14-18
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked if the Secretary has authority beyond specific statutory language.
Chief Justice Roberts asked which agency faces a closer danger to the public.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 40-52 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 40-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 32-42 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 32-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 46-6 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 46-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 42-28 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 42-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 26-40 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 26-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 30-30 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 30-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 36-18 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 36-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 30-38 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 30-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 42-14 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 42-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 32-38 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 32-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 30-50 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 30-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 16-30 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 16-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 38-1 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 38-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 46-52 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 46-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 30-44 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 30-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 48-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 48-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 52-8 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 52-8
Why it matters
The outcome defines the limits of federal power over private employment. It determines whether the government can mandate vaccines in healthcare. This affects millions of workers and patients nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 48-6 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 48-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 54-1 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 54-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 90, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 90, lines 14-18
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 40-52 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 40-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 32-42 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 32-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 46-6 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 46-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 42-28 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 42-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 26-40 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 26-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 30-30 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 30-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 36-18 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 36-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 30-38 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 30-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 42-14 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 42-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 32-38 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 32-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 30-50 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 30-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 16-30 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 16-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 38-1 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 38-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 46-52 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 46-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 30-44 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 30-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 48-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 48-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 52-8 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 52-8
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 46, lines 48-6 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 48-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 54-1 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 54-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 90, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 90, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 48-6 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 48-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 54-1 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 54-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 90, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 90, lines 14-18
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.