Coinbase, Inc. v. Bielski

Summary

Justice Kavanaugh, joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Alito, Gorsuch, and Barrett, held that a district court must stay its pretrial and trial proceedings during an interlocutory appeal under 9 U. S. C. §16(a) from the denial of a motion to compel arbitration. Applying Griggs, the Court reasoned that the entire merits proceeding is involved in an appeal determining whether the dispute belongs in court or arbitration. The Court reversed the Ninth Circuit and remanded. Justice Jackson dissented, joined in full by Justices Sotomayor and Kagan and as to Parts II–IV by Justice Thomas. The dissent maintained that stays should remain discretionary, that Griggs prevents simultaneous review of the same order rather than all merits proceedings, and that an automatic stay improperly favors parties seeking arbitration.