October Term 2023 · Docket 22-611
Does a public official's social media post count as government speech?
A city manager claims his online posts violated a resident's rights. The resident argues the posts were private speech.
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
the side that brought the case argued social media acts as a town square.
the opposing side argued government employees need free speech rights.
The government argued the duty or authority test applies.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 21-19
- 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 23-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 37-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 37-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-19 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 31-25 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 31-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 29-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 29-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 11-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests when a public official's social media activity becomes state action. the side that brought the case argues the posts served a public function. the opposing side argues the posts were personal expression.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 21-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 11-45
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 31, 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 37-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 37-11
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to find the posts were state action.
the opposing side wants the Court to find the posts were private speech.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 21-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 11-45
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the posts served a public duty.
the opposing side argues the posts were personal and private.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 21-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 11-45
What the justices asked
Justice Jackson asked if the page contained personal photos.
Justice Alito asked about the percentage of work-related posts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 37-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 37-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-19 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 31-25 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 31-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 29-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 29-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-7
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary between public and private speech. It affects how officials use social media. It shapes the rights of government employees.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 21-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 82, 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 10, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-33
- 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 49-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 37-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 37-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-19 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 31-25 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 31-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 29-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 29-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-7
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 36, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 21-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 11-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 21-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 82, 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.