October Term 2022 · Docket 22-105
Does appealing an arbitration order automatically pause the main lawsuit?
Coinbase argues that appealing an arbitration order pauses the main lawsuit. Bielski argues that the appeal does not pause the main lawsuit.
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
Coinbase's lawyer argued that the divestiture rule implies an automatic stay.
Bielski's lawyer argued that the statute text does not mandate a stay.
Justice Sotomayor questioned the consistency of the automatic stay rule.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-27
- 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 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-31 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case asks whether a party can pause a main lawsuit by appealing an arbitration order. Coinbase wants the appeal to pause the main lawsuit. Bielski wants the main lawsuit to continue during the appeal.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 17-13
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 21, 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 71, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 47-7
What each side wants
Coinbase wants the appeal to pause the main lawsuit.
Bielski wants the main lawsuit to continue during the appeal.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 17-13
What each side says
Coinbase argues that the Federal Arbitration Act implies an automatic stay.
Bielski argues that the Federal Arbitration Act text does not mandate a stay.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 17-13
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked how this differs from a forum selection clause.
Justice Sotomayor asked how the district court can reconsider an arbitration order.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-31 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-7
Why it matters
This dispute determines whether companies can pause lawsuits by appealing arbitration orders. It affects how quickly courts resolve commercial disputes. It shapes the balance between arbitration and litigation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 17-13
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 17-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-27
- 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 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-31 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-7
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 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 17-13
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.