October Term 2023 · Docket 22-193
Does a job transfer based on sex violate Title VII without proof of tangible harm?
The dispute centers on whether an employer must prove a transfer caused tangible harm to violate anti-discrimination laws.
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
Muldrow's counsel argued that a sex-based transfer violates Title VII regardless of tangible harm.
The City's counsel argued that the statute requires proof of injury to the employee.
Justices questioned whether the word against implies a requirement for tangible harm.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 107, lines 31-29 — Transcript, file page 107, lines 31-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 37-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-17 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 53-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-9
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Jatonya Muldrow claims the City of St. Louis transferred her due to her sex. She argues this violates Title VII. The City argues the transfer caused no tangible harm. The Court must define the legal standard for such claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 107, lines 31-29 — Transcript, file page 107, lines 31-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 17-29
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 6, 2023.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 17-45
What each side wants
Muldrow wants the Court to rule that a sex-based transfer violates Title VII without proof of tangible harm.
The City wants the Court to require proof that a transfer caused tangible harm to constitute discrimination.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 107, lines 31-29 — Transcript, file page 107, lines 31-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 17-29
What each side says
Muldrow argues that forcing a transfer based on sex is discrimination under Title VII regardless of the job's relative quality.
The City argues that the word against requires proof that the treatment injured the employee.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 107, lines 31-29 — Transcript, file page 107, lines 31-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 17-29
What the justices asked
Justice Jackson asked whether discrimination requires injury or if it covers non-injurious treatment.
Justice Thomas asked what legal work the preposition against performs in the statute.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 37-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-17 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 53-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-9
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of workplace anti-discrimination protections. It determines whether employees must prove tangible harm to sue over biased transfers. The outcome shapes employer liability for personnel decisions. It clarifies the meaning of the statutory phrase discriminate against. It affects how courts evaluate claims of sex-based employment actions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 107, lines 31-29 — Transcript, file page 107, lines 31-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 17-29
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 33-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 37-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-17 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 53-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-9
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 107, lines 31-29 — Transcript, file page 107, lines 31-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 107, lines 31-29 — Transcript, file page 107, lines 31-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 17-29
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.