October Term 2022 · Docket 21-1436
Does the immigration exhaustion rule limit court power or just litigant conduct?
The dispute centers on whether a specific immigration statute strips courts of authority to hear certain claims.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript 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 side that brought the case's counsel argued the lower court erred in dismissing the claim.
The government's counsel argued the statute reflects Congress's judgment on case management.
Justices questioned the distinction between court authority and litigant commands.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 13-21
- 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 23-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-27 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-17 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 31-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 31-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 51-33 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 51-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-41
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the legal nature of an immigration exhaustion requirement. the side that brought the case argues the rule is a procedural command. The government argues it defines the court's power to review cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 51-33 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 51-33
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 17, 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 66, lines 53-27 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-27
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the court to hear the improper fact-finding claim.
The government wants the court to dismiss the claim for lack of authority.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 51-33 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 51-33
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the statute lacks clear language to limit court jurisdiction.
The government argues the statute creates an adversarial scheme requiring agency exhaustion first.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 51-33 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 51-33
What the justices asked
Justice Kavanaugh asked why exhaustion rules have special status compared to other legal divides.
Chief Justice Roberts asked how to distinguish between a right to file and a right to review.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-27 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-17 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 31-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 31-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-41
Why it matters
This issue determines how courts manage high-volume immigration cases. It affects the balance between agency efficiency and judicial oversight. The outcome shapes the procedural path for future immigration appeals.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 51-33 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 51-33
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 13-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-27 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-17 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 31-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 31-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-41
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 51-33 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 51-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 51-33 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 51-33
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.