October Term 2024 · Docket 23-1226

Can district courts ignore agency orders in private disputes?

McLaughlin Chiropractic wants to challenge an agency order in district court. McKesson argues only appellate courts can review it.

Official caption
McLaughlin Chiropractic Assoc. v. McKesson Corp.
Latest argument session
Latest official Court activity
Latest verified event
Decided
Sources analyzed through
Post Opinion

Verified source milestones

  1. — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
  2. — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
  3. — 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.

  1. Argument 1 ·

    What happened at the argument

    Mr. Wessler argued the Hobbs Act does not bind district courts.

    Mr. Guarnieri argued the Hobbs Act grants exclusive appellate jurisdiction.

    Justice Sotomayor questioned the definition of validity in this context.

    Justice Jackson asked about mechanisms for correcting agency orders.

    Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details

    Sources used for this argument breakdown

A citizen's guide to the whole case

What this case is about

The case tests the Hobbs Act. It controls which courts review agency actions. The dispute involves a private lawsuit. The parties disagree on jurisdiction.

Official sources for this section

How the case got here

The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 21, 2025.

Official sources for this section

What each side wants

McLaughlin Chiropractic wants district courts to review agency orders.

McKesson wants exclusive appellate jurisdiction over agency orders.

Official sources for this section

What each side says

McLaughlin argues the Hobbs Act does not bind district courts.

McKesson argues the Hobbs Act bars district court review.

Official sources for this section

What the justices asked

Justice Sotomayor asked about the dictionary definition of validity.

Justice Sotomayor questioned if declaratory judgments are the only method.

Official sources for this section

Why it matters

This case defines court jurisdiction over agency actions. It affects private litigation involving federal regulations. It clarifies the Hobbs Act scope.

Official sources for this section

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 Court provenance

Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page

Verified official opinions and orders

Title and summary sources

Revision history

  1. Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·

    Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.

  2. Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·

    Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.

Download this sanitized case as JSON