Advocate Health Care Network v. Stapleton
Consolidated with Saint Peter’s Healthcare System v. Kaplan (16-86), Dignity Health v. Rollins (16-258)
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 Elena Kagan on Jun 5, 2017. Justice Sotomayor filed a concurring opinion. Justice Gorsuch took no part in the consideration or decision of the case.
May 23, 2016Application (15A1201) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from June 15, 2016 to July 15, 2016, submitted to Justice Kagan.
May 24, 2016Application (15A1201) granted by Justice Kagan extending the time to file until July 15, 2016.
Jul 15, 2016Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due August 15, 2016)Aug 3, 2016Order extending time to file response to petition to and including September 14, 2016.
Aug 8, 2016Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for petitioner.
Aug 8, 2016Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for respondents.
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 14, 2016Brief of respondents Maria Stapleton, et al. in opposition filed.Oct 19, 2016Reply of petitioners Advocate Health Care Networks, 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 16-86 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 respondents Marie Stapleton, et al.
Jan 17, 2017Brief of petitioners Advocate Health Care Network, et al. filed. VIDED.Jan 17, 2017Joint appendix filed (2 Vols.) (Statement of costs 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 amicus curiae of Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, et al. filed. VIDED.Jan 24, 2017Brief amicus curiae of 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 Christian Legal Society, et al. 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 amicus curiae of the United States filed. VIDED.Jan 24, 2017Brief amici curiae of The 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 amici Church Defendants. VIDED.
Feb 3, 2017SET FOR ARGUMENT on Monday, March 27, 2017. VIDED
Feb 6, 2017Record requested from the U.S.C.A. 7th Circuit.
Feb 6, 2017Record received from the U.S.C.A. 7th Circuit. The record is electronic and available on PACER. Also received one SEALED pleading.
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, 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.
Recommended Citation: Advocate Health Care Network v. Stapleton, SCOTUSblog, https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/advocate-health-care-network-v-stapleton/