October Term 2023 · Docket 23-3
Who decides if a crypto user must arbitrate?
Coinbase wants a judge to enforce its arbitration clause. Suski wants a judge to decide if that clause applies.
Verified source milestones
- — 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. Ellsworth argued the Federal Arbitration Act requires enforcing the agreement.
Mr. Harris argued the parties fight due to strategic reasons.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 13-11 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 13-11
- 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 6, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-43
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Coinbase argues the Federal Arbitration Act mandates enforcing its arbitration agreement. Suski argues the agreement lacks clarity. The Court must decide who resolves this threshold dispute.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 13-11 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 13-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 28, 2024.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
What each side wants
Coinbase wants a judge to enforce the arbitration agreement.
Suski wants a judge to decide if the agreement applies.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 13-11 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 13-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
What each side says
Coinbase argues the Federal Arbitration Act requires enforcing the agreement.
Suski argues the agreement creates confusion about its scope.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 13-11 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 13-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked if the rules create a valid arbitration agreement.
Justice Kavanaugh asked if the Court should remand the case to the Ninth Circuit.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-35
- 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 43-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-43
Why it matters
This case defines who decides if a user must arbitrate. It affects how courts handle ambiguous arbitration clauses. It shapes the balance between judicial review and private arbitration.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 13-11 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 13-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
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 41-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-35
- 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 43-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-43
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 33, lines 13-11 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 13-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 13-11 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 13-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
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.