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No. 20-603October Term 2020Decided Jun 29, 2022

Docket 20-603October Term 2020 (2020–2021)

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
Case Accepted
Arguments
Decision ReleasedJun 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.