October Term 2022 · Docket 21-1397
Does a significant legal purpose shield mixed-purpose communications from grand jury subpoenas?
the sides that brought the case seek a significant purpose test to protect mixed legal and business advice. the opposing sides demand a primary purpose test to preserve public access to evidence.
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
the sides that brought the case argue the significant purpose test protects clients seeking bona fide legal advice.
the opposing sides argue the public has a right to every man's evidence.
the sides that brought the case claim the primary purpose test requires impossible disentangling of purposes.
the opposing sides warn that a significance test creates a sweeping sea change in law.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-17
- 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 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 35-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 35-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 37-7
- 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 49-51 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 29-21 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 29-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-43
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on the scope of attorney-client privilege. the sides that brought the case argue a significant legal purpose protects mixed communications. the opposing sides argue only a primary legal purpose qualifies for protection.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 29-21 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 29-21
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 9, 2023.
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 35-13 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-13
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want a significant purpose test to protect mixed legal and business advice.
the opposing sides want a primary purpose test to ensure public access to all evidence.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 29-21 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 29-21
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue a significant purpose test avoids difficult disentangling of mixed communications.
the opposing sides argue a primary purpose test prevents privilege from expanding beyond legal advice.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 29-21 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 29-21
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked how to analyze a purpose that is significant but subsidiary.
Justice Jackson asked if factual parts of attorney memos are covered by privilege.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 35-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 35-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 37-7
- 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 49-51 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-43
Why it matters
The outcome defines the boundary between private legal advice and public evidence. It determines how much business communication remains hidden from grand juries. It shapes the balance between client confidentiality and truth-seeking.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 29-21 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 29-21
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 41-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-17
- 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 41-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 35-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 35-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 37-7
- 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 49-51 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-43
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 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 29-21 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 29-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 29-21 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 29-21
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.