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Saint Peter’s Healthcare System v. Kaplan

Consolidated with:

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
16-86 3d Cir. Mar 27, 2017 Jun 5, 2017 8-0 Kagan OT 2016

Holding: Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, a defined-benefit pension plan maintained by a principal-purpose organization -- one controlled by or associated with a church for the administration or funding of a plan for the church's employees -- qualifies as a "church plan," regardless of who established it.

Judgment: Reversed, 8-0, in an opinion by Justice Kagan on June 5, 2017. Justice Sotomayor filed a concurring opinion. Justice Gorsuch took no part in the consideration or decision of the case.

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
May 23 2016Application (15A1202) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from June 16, 2016 to July 18, 2016, submitted to Justice Alito.
May 25 2016Application (15A1202) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file until July 18, 2016.
Jul 18 2016Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due August 17, 2016)
Aug 3 2016Order extending time to file response to petition to and including September 16, 2016.
Aug 5 2016Consent to the filing of amicus curaie briefs, in support of either party or neither party, received from counsel for respondents.
Aug 9 2016Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for petitioner.
Aug 12 2016Brief amicus curiae of Church Alliance filed. VIDED.
Aug 15 2016Brief amicus curiae of The Thomas More Society filed. VIDED.
Aug 15 2016Brief amicus curiae of Alliance Defending Freedom filed. VIDED.
Aug 15 2016Brief amicus curiae of The Catholic Health Association of the United States filed. VIDED.
Aug 15 2016Brief amicus curiae of The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty filed. VIDED.
Sep 16 2016Brief of respondent Laurence Kaplan in opposition filed.
Oct 20 2016Reply of petitioners Saint Peter's Healthcare System, et al. filed.
Nov 2 2016DISTRIBUTED for Conference of November 22, 2016.
Nov 28 2016DISTRIBUTED for Conference of December 2, 2016.
Dec 2 2016Petition GRANTED The petitions for writs of certiorari in 16-74 and 16-258 are granted. The cases are consolidated and a total of one hour is allotted for oral argument. VIDED.
Dec 14 2016Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for respondent Laurence Kaplan.
Jan 17 2017Brief of petitioners Advocate Health Care Network, et al. filed. VIDED.
Jan 17 2017Joint appendix (2 Vols.) filed. VIDED.
Jan 18 2017Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the petitioners.
Jan 24 2017Brief amicus curiae of Church Alliance filed. VIDED.
Jan 24 2017Brief amici curiae of Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, et al. filed. VIDED.
Jan 24 2017Brief amicus curiae of The American Center for Law and Justice filed. VIDED.
Jan 24 2017Brief amici curiae of Alliance Defending Freedom, and Thomas More Society filed. VIDED.
Jan 24 2017Brief amicus curiae of Saint Elizabeth Medical Center, Inc. filed. VIDED.
Jan 24 2017Brief amici curiae of Church Defendant filed. VIDED.
Jan 24 2017Brief amici curiae of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, et al. filed. VIDED.
Jan 24 2017Brief amicus curiae of Catholic Health Association of the United States filed. VIDED.
Jan 24 2017Brief amicus curiae of The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty filed. VIDED.
Jan 24 2017Brief amicus curiae of The General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists filed. VIDED.
Jan 24 2017Brief amici curiae of Christian Legal Society, et al. filed. VIDED.
Jan 24 2017Brief amicus curiae of the United States filed. VIDED.
Jan 24 2017Brief amici curiae of Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ, et al. filed. VIDED.
Jan 31 2017Letter containing additional disclosure pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 37.6 received from counsel for Church Defendants. VIDED.
Feb 3 2017SET FOR ARGUMENT on Monday, March 27, 2017. VIDED
Feb 6 2017Record requested from the U.S.C.A. 3rd Circuit.
Feb 7 2017Motion of the Deputy Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed. VIDED.
Feb 16 2017Brief of respondents Maria Stapleton, et al. filed. VIDED.
Feb 22 2017Record received from the U.S.C.A. 3rd Circuit. The record is electronic.
Feb 22 2017CIRCULATED.
Feb 22 2017Brief amicus curiae of National Employment Lawyers Association filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Feb 23 2017Brief amici curiae of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Feb 23 2017Brief amicus curiae of Pension Rights Center filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Feb 23 2017Brief amici curiae of AARP, and AARP Foundation filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Feb 23 2017Brief amicus curiae of Professor Daniel I. Halperin filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Mar 17 2017Motion of the Deputy Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED. VIDED
Mar 20 2017Reply of petitioners Advocate Health Care Network, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Mar 27 2017Argued. For petitioners: Lisa S. Blatt, Washington, D. C.; and Malcolm L. Stewart, Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.) For respondents: James A. Feldman, Washington, D. C. VIDED.
Jun 5 2017Judgment REVERSED. Kagan, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which all other Members joined, except Gorsuch, J., who took no part in the consideration or decision of these cases. Sotomayor, J., filed a concurring opinion. VIDED.
Jul 7 2017JUDGMENT ISSUED.