October Term 2023 · Docket 23-51
Do warehouse workers qualify for the Federal Arbitration Act exemption?
the sides that brought the case seek to enforce arbitration agreements. the opposing sides argue these workers fall under a statutory exemption.
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. Bennett cited Southwest versus Saxon for the exemption text.
Ms. Lovitt argued the exemption covers the entire goods journey.
justice_barrett_questioned_past_relevance
justice_kavanaugh_noted_congressional_intent_for_future_industries
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 49-23 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 49-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 19-13
- 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 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-43
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of a federal law. It asks if specific workers fit a defined exemption.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-51
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 20, 2024.
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 70, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 53-7
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to enforce their arbitration agreements.
the opposing sides want the Court to apply the statutory worker exemption.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-51
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the exemption covers only workers transporting goods across borders.
the opposing sides argue the exemption covers any worker in a goods journey.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-51
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked if this affects intrastate delivery drivers.
Justice Sotomayor asked how to handle office-based worker classifications.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 49-23 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 49-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-43
Why it matters
This defines who must arbitrate employment disputes. It shapes labor rights nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-51
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 7-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 49-23 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 49-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 21-21
- 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 11-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-43
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 32, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-51
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.