The Corporate Court's 2011-12 Docket

The Supreme Court’s docket for 2011-12 covers cases that could have profound effects on millions of Americans. Many of these cases pit individual rights against corporate interests. Under the leadership of Chief Justice John Roberts, the Court has consistently favored those powerful corporate interests over average citizens, and has worked to bend the law to favor corporations.

That’s why AFJ is evaluating all cases before the Court to identify the ones that will have important implications for consumers, employees, the environment, and the vitality of our country’s democracy. AFJ tracks these “Corporate Court” cases, as well as significant cases that implicate core constitutional values, paying close attention at the petition for certiorari stage, oral argument, and when a decision is issued. On cases of particular import, we issue in-depth reports, blog posts, press releases, and other resources. Click here for AFJ special reports on important Supreme Court cases. The Corporate Court 2011-12 docket is below. We will continue to update the docket as the Corporate Court adds new cases, or decides those it has already heard.

What’s at Stake in the Cases on the Corporate Court’s Docket?
(Download the entire docket as a .pdf here)

• Arizona v. United States: The federal government’s ability to maintain effective and uniform immigration policies.
  
  
• Christopher v. SmithKline Beecham Corp.: The ability of employees to get time-and-a-half pay for overtime work, as guaranteed under federal law.
  
  
• CompuCredit v. Greenwood : The right of consumers to sue credit repair companies when they are charged excessive fees.
  
  
• Credit Suisse Securities, et. al v. Simmonds: The ability of investors to bring securities fraud suits for insider trading.
  
  
• Douglas v. Independent Living Center of Southern California: The ability of individuals to compel states to abide by federal law by providing adequate health care to Medicaid recipients.
  
  
• First American Financial Corp. v. Edwards: Holding corporations accountable when they violate federal laws preventing payment for business referrals.
  
  
• Florence v. Board of Freeholders: The privacy rights of individuals arrested for minor offenses.
  
  
• Freeman v. Quicken Loans Inc.: The right of consumers to sue corporations who steal their money.
  
  
• Health & Human Services Department v. Florida; National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius; Florida v. Health & Human Services Department : The ability of all Americans to access affordable healthcare.
  
  
• Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. EEOC: Disabled employees' rights to be free from retaliatory firings by religious organization employers.
  
  
• Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co.: Holding corporations responsible for human rights violations committed overseas.
  
  
• Knox v. SEIU: Unions' ability to engage in political advocacy on behalf of workers.
  
  
• Kurns v. Railroad Friction Products: Holding railroad manufacturers responsible for violating state safety regulations.
  
  
• Mims v. Arrow Financial Services: Whether the Telephone Consumer Protection Act allows a consumer claiming harassment to sue in federal court.
  
  
• Minneci v. Pollard: Holding employees of privately-run federal prisons liable for violating inmates’ constitutional rights.
  
  
• National Meat Association v. Harris: States’ ability to protect consumers from contaminated meat.
  
  
• Pacific Operations Offshore v. Valladolid: The ability of oil and gas workers hurt or killed on the job to receive workers’ compensation.
  
  
• Perry v. Perez: The voting rights of the African-American and Latino citizens of Texas.
  
  
• Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency: The ability of EPA to compel compliance with Clean Water Act and other environmental laws.
  
  
• United States v. Jones: The right of individuals to be free from warrantless government tracking of their vehicle‟s location through GPS technology.