No. 20-603October Term 2020Decided Jun 29, 2022
Torres v. Texas Department of Public Safety
This case was about whether a Texas state trooper who returned from military service with service-related lung injuries could sue his state employer under USERRA after the state refused to place him in a suitable job.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jun 29, 2022
- What it's about
This case was about whether a Texas state trooper who returned from military service with service-related lung injuries could sue his state employer under USERRA after the state refused to place him in a suitable job. The Court held that Congress can allow those suits against states because the states gave up that immunity when they joined the Union in matters tied to Congress’s war powers.
Question presented
Whether Congress has the power to authorize suits against nonconsenting states pursuant to its War Powers?
- Case path
Court of Appeals of Texas, Thirteenth District / Decision released Jun 29, 2022
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Timing
Decided June 29, 2022
The Court released its decision on June 29, 2022 without hearing oral argument.
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Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 25, 2026
- Method
- Methodology