October Term 2023 · Docket 22-846
Does the Fair Credit Reporting Act waive federal sovereign immunity?
The dispute centers on whether federal agencies face civil liability for violating credit reporting 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
Benjamin Snyder argued Congress did not unambiguously waive sovereign immunity in 1996.
Joshi argued the Fair Credit Reporting Act expressly defines person to include government agencies.
Snyder cited the clear statement rule to ensure Congress specifically considered immunity waivers.
Joshi noted that ambiguity in similar statutes favors the government under sovereign immunity canons.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 11-13
- 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 25-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 43-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 43-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-15 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-31 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 93, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 93, lines 33-1
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests if Congress clearly waived federal sovereign immunity in the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 93, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 93, lines 33-1
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 6, 2023.
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 68, lines 39-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-15
What each side wants
The government wants the Court to affirm that federal agencies retain sovereign immunity.
The individual wants the Court to hold that federal agencies face civil liability.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 93, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 93, lines 33-1
What each side says
The government argues the statute lacks a clear statement waiving sovereign immunity.
The individual argues the statute explicitly defines persons to include government agencies.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 93, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 93, lines 33-1
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked if the statutory definition authorizes suits against natural persons and governments.
Justice Thomas asked why the term official is not sufficient to waive sovereign immunity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 43-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 43-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-15 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-31 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-9
Why it matters
This case determines whether federal agencies face financial liability for credit reporting errors. It defines the scope of federal sovereign immunity in consumer protection law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 93, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 93, lines 33-1
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 11, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 11-13
- 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 35-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 43-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 43-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-15 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-31 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-21
- 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 4, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 93, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 93, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 93, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 93, lines 33-1
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.