No. 22-1218October Term 2023Decided May 16, 2024
Smith v. Spizzirri
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that when a district court determines a lawsuit involves a dispute subject to arbitration and a party requests a stay, Section 3 of the Federal Arbitration Act requires the court to pause the proceedings rather than dismiss the case entirely.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released May 16, 2024
- What it's about
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that when a district court determines a lawsuit involves a dispute subject to arbitration and a party requests a stay, Section 3 of the Federal Arbitration Act requires the court to pause the proceedings rather than dismiss the case entirely. This decision clarifies that judges do not have the discretion to dismiss lawsuits when sending claims to arbitration.
Question presented
Does Section 3 of the Federal Arbitration Act give district courts discretion to dismiss a lawsuit when all claims are subject to arbitration?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit / Decision released May 16, 2024
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Timing
Decided May 16, 2024
The Court released its decision 24 days after oral argument on April 22, 2024. The median for cases argued in April is 58 days.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Mar 30, 2026
- Method
- Methodology