Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Central Laborers’ Pension Fund v. Heinz. Scotusblog gives a good synopsis of the case here.

The LATimes.com reports on the oral arguments in this article: “High Court Takes Up Key Pension Case.” The article notes:

The court’s ruling in Central Laborers Pension Fund vs. Heinz will affect millions of workers and retirees covered by those plans. And some legal experts say the outcome could have an even broader effect if the court changed the “anti-cutback” rule for pensions in general. If the court were to adopt the government’s view, pension trustees would be permitted to suspend pension benefits for retirees who take new jobs.

The article provides some indication as to how some of the justices perceived the case:

“It seems to me utterly unrealistic” to say that a cutoff of benefits is not a reduction in benefits, Justice Antonin Scalia said.

“This is a sweeping authority you are asking for,” Justice Anthony M. Kennedy told a lawyer for the pension fund.