← All Cases Coverage by Bryan K. Randolph · BrynoDC

Starbucks v. McKinney

No. 23-367 SCOTUS · Decided Decided SCOTUS
Cert Granted: Jan 12, 2024 Argued: Apr 23, 2024 Decided: Jun 13, 2024

Case Overview

The NLRB asked a federal court to temporarily reinstate seven Starbucks employees fired after organizing a union-related media event, arguing the firings were illegal labor practices that would chill organizing while the Board's proceedings played out. The circuit courts had been split on what standard applies when the NLRB seeks such emergency injunctions. The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 in June 2024 that courts must apply the traditional four-factor preliminary injunction standard — not a more relaxed test some circuits had developed — before ordering a business to reinstate employees. The decision makes it harder for the NLRB to use emergency court orders as a lever during labor disputes.


The Conclusion

**The Supreme Court held 8-1 that courts must apply the traditional four-factor preliminary injunction standard when the NLRB seeks emergency court orders to reinstate fired workers.** This rejects a more relaxed standard some circuits had developed, making it harder for the Board to obtain emergency relief during labor disputes.

CourtSupreme Court of the United States
FiledMay 10, 2022
Judge Sheryl H. Lipman
CL Statusterminated
View on CourtListener →

No circuit court data for this case.

Cert GrantedJan 12, 2024
Statusterminated
Filed (CL)May 10, 2022
View on CourtListener →

Outcome History (11)

  1. Aug 18, 2022 District
    Preliminary injunction granted Temporary relief Unreviewed

    District Court grants in part Starbucks' petition for a temporary injunction.

  2. Aug 24, 2022 Circuit
    Stay granted Temporary relief Unreviewed

    Circuit Court grants an administrative stay pending further order.

  3. Aug 26, 2022 District
    Stay denied Relief denied Unreviewed

    District Court denies Starbucks' motion to stay.

  4. Sep 6, 2022 Circuit
    Stay denied Relief denied Unreviewed

    Circuit Court denies Starbucks' motions to strike and to stay pending appeal.

  5. Aug 8, 2023 Circuit
    Affirmed Relief denied Final Unreviewed

    Circuit Court affirms the district court's decision.

  6. Oct 2, 2023 District
    Other Neutral Unreviewed

    Order notifying parties that the case will be dismissed.

  7. Oct 17, 2023 District
    Voluntarily dismissed Settled Final Unreviewed

    District court judgment signed, case likely settled.

  8. Jan 17, 2024 SCOTUS
    Cert granted Unresolved Unreviewed

    Supreme Court grants the petition for a writ of certiorari.

  9. Jun 13, 2024 SCOTUS
    Vacated Neutral Final Unreviewed

    Supreme Court vacates and remands the case.

  10. Jul 15, 2024 SCOTUS
    Vacated Neutral Final Unreviewed

    Supreme Court vacates and remands the case, granting costs to the petitioner.

  11. Jul 17, 2024 Circuit
    Remanded Unresolved Unreviewed

    Court of Appeals vacates district court order and remands for reconsideration.

SCOTUS TMR-cc4be96b Jul 13, 2026
Subscribe on Substack ↗

This tracker is maintained by BrynoDC and is free because readers fund it. Support