October Term 2023 · Docket 22-1238
Does a constitutional fee violation require a refund?
The dispute centers on whether the government must refund fees paid under a law the Court later found unconstitutional.
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
Ms. Hansford argued that the specific relief requested by parties matters.
Mr. Geyser stated that prospective-only relief is insufficient for past injury.
Justice Thomas questioned whether prior cases support the LLC's position.
Justice Sotomayor linked the issue to the concept of equal payment.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 39-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 39-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 37-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 37-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 31-1 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-9
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The United States Trustee argues that prospective relief alone fails to fix past monetary harm. The LLC argues that a refund is the proper remedy for unconstitutional fees.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-45
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 9, 2024.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 47-51
What each side wants
The United States Trustee wants the Court to limit relief to future actions only.
The LLC wants the Court to order a full refund of past fees.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-45
What each side says
The Trustee argues that prospective relief adequately addresses the constitutional violation.
The LLC argues that past monetary injury requires a specific monetary remedy.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-45
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked if legislative intent determines the remedy for constitutional violations.
Justice Gorsuch asked who would execute the order and in what sequence.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 39-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 39-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 37-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 37-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 31-1 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-9
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of relief for unconstitutional government fees. It determines whether taxpayers recover past payments or only stop future ones.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-45
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 12, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 39-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 39-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 37-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 37-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 31-1 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-9
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 32, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-45
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.