Babb v. Wilkie
Holding
The plain meaning of 29 U.S.C. § 633a(a), the federal-sector provision of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, demands that personnel actions be untainted by any consideration of age, but but-for causation is important in determining the appropriate remedy that may be obtained.
Judgment
Reversed and remanded, 8-1, in an opinion by Samuel Alito on Apr 6, 2020. Justice Sotomayor filed a concurring opinion, in which Justice Ginsburg joined. Justice Thomas filed a dissenting opinion.
Jan 7, 2019Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due February 8, 2019)Jan 30, 2019Motion to extend the time to file a response from February 8, 2019 to March 11, 2019, submitted to The Clerk.
Jan 31, 2019Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including March 11, 2019.
Mar 4, 2019Motion to extend the time to file a response from March 11, 2019 to April 10, 2019, submitted to The Clerk.Mar 5, 2019Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including April 10, 2019.
Apr 4, 2019Motion to extend the time to file a response from April 10, 2019 to May 20, 2019, submitted to The Clerk.Apr 5, 2019Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including May 20, 2019.
May 20, 2019Brief of respondent Robert Wilkie, Secretary of Veterans Affairs filed.Jun 3, 2019Reply of petitioner Noris Babb filed.Jun 4, 2019DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/20/2019.
Jun 26, 2019DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/27/2019.
Jun 28, 2019Petition GRANTED limited to the following question: Whether the federal-sector provision of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, which provides that personnel actions affecting agency employees aged 40 years or older shall be made free from any “discrimination based on age,” 29 U. S. C. §633a(a), requires a plaintiff to prove that age was a but-for cause of the challenged personnel action.
Jul 19, 2019Joint motion for an extension of time within which to file the briefs on the merits filed.Jul 19, 2019Joint motion for an extension of time within which to file the briefs on the merits granted. The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including September 17, 2019. The time to file respondents' briefs on the merits is extended to and including November 22, 2019.
Sep 17, 2019Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)Sep 17, 2019Brief of petitioner Noris Babb filed.Sep 17, 2019Blanket Consent filed by Petitioner, Noris Babb.Sep 24, 2019Brief amicus curiae of National Treasury Employees Union filed.Sep 24, 2019Brief amici curiae of AARP, et al. filed.Nov 8, 2019SET FOR ARGUMENT on Wednesday, January 15, 2020.
Nov 22, 2019Brief of respondent Robert Wilkie, Secretary of Veterans Affairs filed.Nov 26, 2019CIRCULATED
Dec 3, 2019Record requested from the U.S.C.A. 11th Circuit.
Dec 23, 2019Reply of petitioner Noris Babb filed. (Distributed)Jan 15, 2020Argued. For petitioner: Roman Martinez, Washington, D. C. For respondent: Noel J. Francisco, Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C.
Jan 17, 2020The parties are directed to file supplemental letter briefs addressing the following question: What prospective administrative or judicial relief may a federal employee obtain under laws other than the ADEA, including under the civil service laws or the Constitution, against age-related policies, practices, actions, or statements that were not the but-for cause of an adverse employment action against the complaining employee? The briefs, not to exceed 10 pages, are to be filed simultaneously with the Clerk and served upon opposing counsel on or before 2 p.m., Thursday, January 23, 2020.
Jan 23, 2020Supplemental letter brief of petitioner Noris Babb filed. (Distributed)Jan 23, 2020Supplemental letter brief of respondent Robert Wilkie, Secretary of Veterans Affairs filed. (Distributed)Apr 6, 2020Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Alito, J., delivered the opinion of the Court,, in which Roberts, C. J., and Breyer, Sotomayor, Kagan, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh, JJ., joined, and in which Ginsburg, J., joined as to all but footnote 3. Sotomayor, J., filed a concurring opinion, in which Ginsburg, J., joined. Thomas, J., filed a dissenting opinion.
May 8, 2020JUDGMENT ISSUED.
Recommended Citation: Babb v. Wilkie, SCOTUSblog, https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/babb-v-wilkie/