October Term 2024 · Docket 23-861
Does differential pay apply to reservists called up during a national emergency?
The dispute centers on whether the word during limits pay to specific contingency operations or covers all active duty calls.
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
Andrew Tutt argued the government abandoned the Adams rule.
Tutt stated the rule requires a direct call to a contingency operation.
Tutt claimed his client was not directly called into such an operation.
Ms. Reaves argued the word during depends on context.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 11-23
- 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 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-11
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Feliciano seeks differential pay for his active duty service. The Department of Transportation denies the claim. The case tests the statutory scope of the word during.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 47-11
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 9, 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 31-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-35
What each side wants
Feliciano wants differential pay for his active duty service.
The Department of Transportation wants to deny the pay claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 47-11
What each side says
Feliciano argues the word during has multiple contextual meanings.
The Department of Transportation argues the Adams rule requires a direct call to a contingency operation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 47-11
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked why Congress did not use simpler language for differential pay.
Justice Jackson asked if the practical effect of the side that brought the case's reading covers all reservists called up.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-11
Why it matters
The outcome defines the financial scope of military reserve obligations. It clarifies statutory interpretation for future pay disputes. It impacts the budget for national emergency responses.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 47-11
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 25-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 11-23
- 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 27-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-11
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 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 47-11
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.