October Term 2022 · Docket 21-86
Can Axon sue the FTC in federal court for constitutional violations?
Axon seeks direct federal court review of FTC constitutional claims. The FTC demands Axon exhaust agency remedies first.
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
Paul Clement argued Congress granted district courts original jurisdiction over constitutional claims.
Clement stated Congress never withdrew that jurisdiction for these specific claims.
Clement argued the case does not challenge agency action as such.
Stewart argued courts should not intervene in ongoing agency proceedings until final orders issue.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 37-45
- 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 47, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 13-35
- 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 55-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 41-53 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 41-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 11-35
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Axon wants federal courts to hear its constitutional claims immediately. The FTC wants Axon to finish agency proceedings first.
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 47, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 11-35
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 7, 2022.
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 70, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-43
What each side wants
Axon wants federal courts to hear its constitutional claims now.
The FTC wants Axon to finish agency proceedings first.
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 47, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 11-35
What each side says
Axon argues Congress granted district courts original jurisdiction over constitutional claims.
The FTC argues courts must not intervene in ongoing agency proceedings.
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 47, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 11-35
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked about the difficulty of applying multi-factor tests.
Justice Thomas asked why the agency cannot consider constitutional claims internally.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 37-45
- 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 55-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 41-53 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 41-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-29
Why it matters
This case defines when federal courts can hear constitutional challenges to agency actions. It shapes the balance between judicial review and administrative autonomy.
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 47, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 11-35
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 27-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 37-45
- 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 55-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 41-53 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 41-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-29
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 47, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 11-35
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.