Joint unopposed motion for divided argument — NFIB v. OSHA

Record facts

Full text

Nos. 21A244, 21A247 
In the Supreme Court of the United States 
___________________________________ 
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS, ET AL. 
Applicants 
v.  
 
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, ET AL. 
Respondents 
_______________________________________________________ 
OHIO, ET AL. 
Applicants 
v.  
 
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND  
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, ET AL. 
Respondents 
_______________________________________________________ 
ON APPLICATION FOR STAY OF ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION AND PETITION 
FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS 
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT  
__________________________________ 
JOINT UNOPPOSED MOTION FOR DIVIDED ARGUMENT 
___________________________________ 
Steven P. Lehotsky* 
    *Counsel of Record 
Scott A. Keller  
Michael B. Schon  
LEHOTSKY KELLER LLP  
200 Massachusetts Ave. NW  
Washington, DC 20001  
(512) 693-8350  
steve@lehotskykeller.com 
 
Counsel for Applicants in No. 21A244 
Dave Yost 
Attorney General of Ohio 
 
Benjamin M. Flowers* 
* Counsel of Record 
Solicitor General 
May Davis 
John Rockenbach 
Deputy Solicitors General 
30 E. Broad St., 17th Floor 
Columbus, OH 43215 
(614) 466-8980   
bflowers@OhioAGO.gov  
 
Counsel for Applicants in No. 21A247 
Additional counsel listed in the signature block 
 

1 
Pursuant to Rules 21 and 28.4, the applicants in case 21A244 (“the Business 
Association Applicants”) and the applicants in case 21A247 (“the State Applicants”) 
jointly move for divided argument.  The applicants request to evenly divide their 30 
minutes of argument time, with each group receiving 15 minutes.  Through their 
counsel, the respondents have declined to take any position on this motion. 
1.  The two groups of applicants have been represented by different counsel 
throughout this litigation.  They filed separately in the courts of appeals and they 
separately sought relief from this Court.       
2.  Although generally aligned, the Business Association Applicants and the 
State Applicants have distinct interests in this case.  The Business Association Ap-
plicants seek a stay to prevent irreparable injury to the businesses of their respective 
members, which are collectively responsible for trillions of dollars of economic activity 
in the country.  The State Applicants, in contrast, seek relief to: prevent the federal 
government from regulating matters over which the State Applicants alone have con-
stitutional authority; defend their own laws and policies against a federal regulation 
with preemptive force; and protect their citizens from being subjected to an illegal 
regulation.  Further, under the challenged rule, States “that administer their own 
state OSHA Plans” will be made to “enforce the vaccinate-or-test mandate against 
any covered public employees and private businesses in their jurisdiction” if a stay is 
not granted.  In re MCP No. 165, Occupational Safety & Health Admin., Interim Final 
Rule: COVID-19 Vaccination & Testing, No. 21-7000, et al. 2021 WL 5914024, at *4 
(6th Cir. Dec. 15, 2021) (Sutton, C.J., dissenting from the denial of initial hearing en 

2 
banc).  These States have an interest in obtaining a court order that spares them from 
having to enforce an illegal administrative order. 
3.  The Business Association and State Applicants have advanced different ar-
guments.  For example, the Business Association Applicants argued in their stay ap-
plication that the challenged emergency temporary standard is not “necessary,” and 
thus violates the authorizing statute, 29 U.S.C. §655(c), because it was not necessary 
for OSHA to promulgate an immediately effective standard without using ordinary 
notice-and-comment rulemaking.  See Business Association Applicants’ Stay Motion 
at 15.  The State Applicants did not raise that argument in the stay application filed 
with this Court.  The State applicants did, however, argue in their stay application:  
that the risk presented by COVID-19 is not “grave,” §655(c); that the challenged rule 
is not a “temporary” response to an “emergency,” id.; that the “federalism canon” for-
bade reading the authorizing statute as empowering OSHA to issue the challenged 
regulation; and that reading the authorizing statute as permitting OSHA to issue the 
challenged regulation would cause the statute to violate the Commerce Clause.  
States’ Stay Application at 14–19, 23–25, 27–28, , 28–30.  The Business Association 
Applicants did not raise these arguments in their stay application. 
4.  In sum, the two groups of applicants have been consistently represented by 
different attorneys, have distinct interests, and have made different arguments.  In 
light of all that, and because this case is being argued in just over two weeks, it would 
be exceptionally difficult for counsel for one group to fully grasp and fairly represent 
the interests of the other. 

3 
5.  This Court often allows private and government entities to divide argument.  
See, e.g., United States v. Texas, 142 S. Ct. 416 (2021); Little Sisters of the Poor Saints 
Peter & Paul Home v. Pennsylvania, 140 S. Ct. 2367 (2020); Dep’t of Homeland Secu-
rity v. Regents of the Univ. of Cal., 140 S. Ct. 1891 (2020); Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. 
v. Colo. Civ. Rights Comm’n, 138 S. Ct. 1719 (2018).  Allowing the Business Associa-
tion and State Applicants to argue in this case would enable the Court to hear from 
two groups with distinct insights on a matter of exceptional importance to business, 
States, public health, and our federalist structure.   
6.  For all the reasons discussed above, the Business Association and State 
Applicants believe that allowing both groups of applicants to participate in oral argu-
ment would materially aid in the resolution of this case.  Therefore, they jointly move 
to divide evenly their 30 minutes of argument time.   
 
 
 

4 
December 23, 2021 
 
STEVEN P. LEHOTSKY* 
    *Counsel of Record 
SCOTT A. KELLER  
MICHAEL B. SCHON  
LEHOTSKY KELLER LLP  
200 Massachusetts Ave. NW  
Washington, DC 20001  
(512) 693-8350  
steve@lehotskykeller.com 
 
Katherine C. Yarger  
LEHOTSKY KELLER LLP  
1550 Dayton St. Unit 362  
Denver, CO 80010  
 
Joshua P. Morrow  
LEHOTSKY KELLER LLP  
919 Congress Ave.  
Austin, TX 78701 
 
Counsel for Applicants in No. 21A244 
 
 
 
 
DANIEL CAMERON 
Attorney General of Kentucky 
 
VICTOR B. MADDOX 
CHRISTOPHER L. THACKER  
ALEXANDER Y. MAGERA  
JEREMY J. SYLVESTER  
LINDSEY R. KEISER  
Office of the Attorney General 
700 Capital Avenue, Suite 118 
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601 
Phone: (502) 696-5300 
Victor.Maddox@ky.gov  
 
Counsel for the Commonwealth of 
Kentucky 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
 
DAVE YOST 
Attorney General of Ohio 
 
BENJAMIN M. FLOWERS* 
    *Counsel of Record 
Solicitor General 
MAY DAVIS 
JOHN ROCKENBACH 
Deputy Solicitors General 
30 E. Broad St., 17th Floor 
Columbus, OH 43215 
Phone: (614) 466-8980   
bflowers@OhioAGO.gov  
 
Counsel for the State of Ohio 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
JOHN M. O’CONNOR 
Attorney General of Oklahoma 
 
MITHUN MANSINGHANI 
Solicitor General 
313 N.E. 21st St. 
Oklahoma City, OK 
Phone: (405) 521-3921 
Mithun.Mansinghani@oag.ok.gov 
 
Counsel for the State of Oklahoma 
 
 
 
 
 
 

5 
HERBERT H. SLATERY III 
Attorney General of Tennessee 
 
CLARK L. HILDABRAND  
BRANDON J. SMITH  
Office of the Attorney General 
and Reporter 
P.O. Box. 20207 
Nashville, Tennessee 37202-0207 
Phone: (615) 532-4081 
clark.hildabrand@ag.tn.gov  
 
Counsel for the State of Tennessee 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LAWRENCE G. WASDEN 
Attorney General of Idaho 
 
BRIAN KANE 
Chief Deputy Attorney General 
LESLIE M. HAYES  
MEGAN A. LARRONDO 
Deputy Attorneys General 
700 W. Jefferson Street, Ste. 210 
P.O. Box 83720 
Boise, Idaho 83720-0010 
Phone: (208) 334-2400 
brian.kane@ag.idaho.gov 
 
Counsel for the State of Idaho 
 
 
 
 
PATRICK MORRISEY 
Attorney General of West Virginia 
 
LINDSAY S. SEE  
Solicitor General 
MICHAEL WILLIAMS (admitted in 
Michigan; practicing under supervision 
of West Virginia attorneys) 
Office of the Attorney General 
State Capitol Complex 
Bldg. 1, Room E-26 
Charleston, West Virginia 25305 
Phone: (304) 558-2021 
Lindsay.S.See@wvago.gov 
 
Counsel for the State of  
West Virginia  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LYNN FITCH 
Attorney General of Mississippi 
 
WHITNEY H. LIPSCOMB 
Deputy Attorney General 
SCOTT G. STEWART 
Solicitor General 
JUSTIN L. MATHENY 
Deputy Solicitor General 
JOHN V. COGHLAN 
Deputy Solicitor General 
Mississippi Attorney General’s Office 
P.O. Box 220 
Jackson, MS 39205 
Phone: (601) 359-3680 
scott.stewart@ago.ms.gov 
 
Counsel for the State of Mississippi 
 

6 
DEREK SCHMIDT  
Attorney General of Kansas 
 
JEFFREY A. CHANAY 
Chief Deputy Attorney General 
SHANNON GRAMMEL 
Deputy Solicitor General 
120 SW 10th Avenue, 2nd Floor 
Topeka, Kansas 66612 
Phone: (785) 296-2215 
jeff.chanay@ag.ks.gov 
 
Counsel for the State of Kansas 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
STEVE MARSHALL 
Attorney General of Alabama 
 
EDMUND G. LACOUR JR. 
Solicitor General 
THOMAS A. WILSON 
Deputy Solicitor General 
State of Alabama 
Office of the Attorney General 
501 Washington Ave. 
Montgomery, AL 36130 
Phone: (334) 242-7300 
Edmund.LaCour@AlabamaAG.gov 
 
Counsel for the State of Alabama 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ERIC S. SCHMITT 
Attorney General of Missouri 
 
D. JOHN SAUER 
   Solicitor General 
Office of the Missouri  
Attorney General 
Supreme Court Building 
P.O. Box 899 
Jefferson City, MO 65102 
Phone: (573) 751-3321 
John.Sauer@ago.mo.gov 
 
Counsel for the State of Missouri 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AUSTIN KNUDSEN  
Attorney General of Montana 
 
KRISTIN HANSEN  
Lieutenant General 
DAVID M.S. DEWHIRST  
Solicitor General  
CHRISTIAN B. CORRIGAN  
Assistant Solicitor General  
Office of the Attorney General  
215 North Sanders  
P.O. Box 201401  
Helena, MT 59620-1401  
Phone:  (406) 444-2026 
David.Dewhirst@mt.gov  
 
Counsel for the State of Montana 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

7 
TREG R. TAYLOR 
Attorney General of Alaska 
 
CHARLES E. BRASINGTON 
Assistant Attorney General 
State of Alaska 
1031 West Fourth Avenue, Suite 200 
Anchorage, AK 99501 
Phone:  (907) 269-6612 
charles.brasington@alaska.gov 
 
Counsel for the State of Alaska 
 
 
 
MARK BRNOVICH 
Attorney General of Arizona 
 
BRUNN W. ROYSDEN IIII 
   SOLICITOR GENERAL 
DREW C. ENSIGN 
Deputy Solicitor General 
Arizona Attorney General’s Office 
2005 N. Central Ave. 
Phoenix, AZ 85004 
Phone: (602) 542-3333 
Drew.ensign@azag.gov 
 
Counsel for the State of Arizona 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DOUGLAS J. PETERSON 
Attorney General of Nebraska 
 
JAMES A. CAMPBELL  
Solicitor General  
Office of the Nebraska  
Attorney General 
2115 State Capitol     
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509                           
Phone:  (402) 471-2682 
jim.campbell@nebraska.gov 
 
Counsel for the State of Nebraska 
 
 
JOHN M. FORMELLA 
Attorney General of New Hampshire 
 
ANTHONY J. GALDIERI 
Solicitor General 
New Hampshire Department of Justice 
33 Capitol Street 
Concord, NH 03301 
Phone: (603) 271-3658 
Anthony.J.Galdieri@doj.nh.gov 
 
Counsel for the State of New Hampshire 
 
 
 
 
WAYNE STENEHJEM 
Attorney General of North Dakota 
 
MATTHEW A. SAGSVEEN 
Solicitor General 
Office of Attorney General 
500 North 9th Street 
Bismarck, ND 58501-4509 
Phone:  (701) 328-3640 
masagsve@nd.gov 
 
Counsel for the State of North Dakota 
 

8 
LESLIE RUTLEDGE 
Attorney General of Arkansas 
 
NICHOLAS J. BRONNI 
Solicitor General 
VINCENT M. WAGNER 
Deputy Solicitor General 
Office of the Arkansas  
Attorney General 
323 Center Street, Suite 200 
Little Rock, Arkansas  72201 
Phone:  (501) 682-8090 
Nicholas.bronni@arkansasag.gov 
 
Counsel for the State of Arkansas 
 
 
 
 
ASHLEY MOODY 
Attorney General of Florida 
 
HENRY C. WHITAKER 
Solicitor General 
DANIEL W. BELL 
Chief Deputy Solicitor General 
EVAN EZRAY 
JASON H. HILBORN 
Deputy Solicitors General 
JAMES H. PERCIVAL 
Deputy Attorney General of  
Legal Policy 
NATALIE P. CHRISTMAS 
Assistant Attorney General of  
Legal Policy 
State of Florida 
Office of the Attorney General 
The Capitol, Pl-01 
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1050 
Phone:  (850) 414-3300 
Henry.Whitaker@myfloridalegal.com 
 
Counsel for the State of Florida 
 
ALAN WILSON 
Attorney General of South Carolina 
 
ROBERT D. COOK 
Solicitor General 
J. EMORY SMITH, JR. 
Deputy Solicitor General 
THOMAS T. HYDRICK 
Assistant Deputy Solicitor General 
Office of the Attorney General 
Post Office Box 11549 
Columbia, South Carolina 29211 
Phone: (803) 734-3680 
thomashydrick@scag.gov 
 
Counsel for the State of South Carolina 
 
 
 
JASON R. RAVNSBORG 
South Dakota Attorney General 
 
DAVID M. MCVEY 
Assistant Attorney General 
1302 E. Highway 14, Suite 1 
Pierre, SD  57501-8501 
Phone: (605) 773-3215 
david.mcvey@state.sd.us 
 
Counsel for the State of South Dakota 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

9 
CHRISTOPHER M. CARR 
Attorney General of Georgia 
 
STEPHEN J. PETRANY 
   Solicitor General 
ROSS W. BERGETHON 
DREW F. WALDBESER 
   Deputy Solicitors General 
State of Georgia 
Office of the Attorney General 
40 Capitol Square, S.W. 
Atlanta, Georgia, 30334 
Phone:  (404) 458-3378 
 
Counsel for the State of Georgia 
 
 
 
THEODORE E. ROKITA 
Attorney General of Indiana 
 
THOMAS M. FISHER 
Solicitor General 
JULIA C. PAYNE 
MELINDA R. HOLMES 
Deputy Attorneys General 
Office of the Indiana Attorney General 
IGC South, Fifth Floor  
302 W. Washington Street  
Indianapolis, IN 46204  
Phone:  (317) 232-6255 
Tom.Fisher@atg.in.gov 
 
Counsel for the State of Indiana 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KEN PAXTON  
Attorney General of Texas  
 
BRENT WEBSTER  
First Assistant Attorney General  
AARON F. REITZ  
Deputy Attorney General for  
Legal Strategy 
JUDD E. STONE II 
Solicitor General 
LANORA C. PETTIT 
Principal Deputy Solicitor General 
WILLIAM F. COLE 
RYAN S. BAASCH 
Assistant Solicitors General 
LEIF A. OLSON 
Special Counsel 
Office of the Attorney General  
P.O. Box 12548 (MC 059)  
Austin, Texas 78711-2548  
Phone: (512) 936-1700 
William.Cole@oag.texas.gov 
 
Counsel for the State of Texas 
 
 
 
 
SEAN REYES 
Attorney General 
 
MELISSA A. HOLYOAK 
Solicitor General 
Office of the Attorney General 
350 N. State Street, Suite 230 
P.O. Box 142320 
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2320 
Phone: (385) 271-2484 
melissaholyoak@agutah.gov 
 
Counsel for the State of Utah 
 
 
 

10 
JEFFREY S. THOMPSON 
Solicitor General of Iowa 
 
SAMUEL P. LANGHOLZ  
Assistant Solicitor General 
Office of the Iowa Attorney General 
1305 E. Walnut Street 
Des Moines, Iowa 50319 
Phone:  (515) 281-5164 
jeffrey.thompson@ag.iowa.gov 
 
Counsel for the State of Iowa 
 
 
 
JEFF LANDRY 
Attorney General of Louisiana 
 
ELIZABETH B. MURRILL 
Solicitor General 
JOSEPH S. ST. JOHN 
Deputy Solicitor General 
JOSIAH KOLLMEYER 
Assistant Solicitor General 
MORGAN BRUNGARD 
Assistant Solicitor General 
Louisiana Department of Justice 
1885 N. Third Street 
Baton Rouge, LA 70804 
Phone: (225) 326-6766 
emurrill@ag.louisiana.gov 
 
Counsel for the State of Louisiana 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BRIDGET HILL 
Attorney General of Wyoming 
 
RYAN SCHELHAAS 
Chief Deputy Attorney General 
Wyoming Attorney General’s Office 
109 State Capitol 
Cheyenne, WY 82002 
Telephone: (307) 777-5786 
ryan.schelhaas@wyo.gov 
 
Counsel for the State of Wyoming

File and source

File

21A244_010_Dec_23_2021_Main_Document_20211223122037896_OSHA_-_Motion_for_Divided_Argument.PDF

Size

223,234 bytes

SHA-256

91a5dd07918f2281a2516df5fc3b27ee0b3840c2480c0d6dda083b64121da615

Our copy

21A244_010_Dec_23_2021_Main_Document_20211223122037896_OSHA_-_Motion_for_Divided_Argument.PDF

Original

www.supremecourt.gov