union pacific railroad brotherhood locomotive engineers trainmen general committee adjustment central region argued october decided december railway labor act rla act enacted promote peaceful efficient resolution labor disputes amended act mandates arbitration minor disputes panels composed two representatives labor two industry neutral referee tiebreaker union pacific price supply arbitrators congress established national railroad adjustment board nrab board board private persons representing labor industry equal numbers first resorting arbitration employees carriers must exhaust grievance procedures agreement hereinafter cba see first stage known proceedings final prearbitration step parties must attempt settlement conference representatives carrier second sixth rla contains instructions concerning place time conferences supersede provisions agreement conferences parties sixth common practice conference may informal telephone conversation parties fail achieve resolution either may refer matter nrab first submissions board must include full statement facts supporting data bearing upon disputes ibid parties may seek review nrab panel order one stated grounds failure comply requirements rla failure order conform confine matters within scope division jurisdiction fraud corruption member division making order first courts appeals divided whether addition statutory grounds judicial review stated first courts may review nrab proceedings due process violations petitioner union pacific railroad hereinafter carrier charged five employees disciplinary violations union hereinafter union initiated grievance proceedings pursuant cba union asserts parties conferenced five disputes carrier concedes conferenced least two dissatisfied outcome proceedings union sought arbitration nrab first division parties filed submissions five cases neither mentioned conferencing disputed matter yet case parties necessarily knew whether union carrier conferred board governing rule published circular one prescribes board procedures instructs carriers employees set forth relevant argumentative facts cfr prior hearing one arbitration panel industry representatives objected sua sponte record included proof conferencing carrier thereafter embraced objection referee allowed union submit evidence conferencing union maintained issue untimely raised indeed forfeited carrier objected date set argument panel five identical decisions dismissed petitions want jurisdiction record supplemented meet objection panel reasoned appellate tribunal panel empowered consider de novo evidence arguments union sought review federal district affirmed board decision appeal seventh circuit observed single question issue whether written documentation conference record necessary prerequisite nrab arbitration determined prerequisite statute rules instead resting decision union primary argument panel erred ruling lacked jurisdiction cases reversed ground nrab proceedings incompatible due process held seventh circuit erred resolving union appeal constitutional rather statutory headline granted certiorari address whether nrab orders may set aside failure comply due process notwithstanding first limited grounds review long respondent seek modify judgment true respondent may rely upon matter appearing record support judgment blum bacon seventh circuit understood union pressed statutory constitutional arguments observed arguments homed single question written documentation conference record necessary prerequisite nrab arbitration answering single question negative seventh circuit effectively resolved union core complaint nothing act elevates jurisdictional status obligation conference minor disputes prove conferencing negative answer single question leaves doubt union entitlement accord first vacation board orders given statutory ground relief due process issue alive case warrant answer question may consequential another case nevertheless grant certiorari enables reduce confusion clouding well board decisions matters properly typed jurisdictional pp congress authorized board prescribe rules presenting processing claims first congress alone controls board jurisdiction refusing adjudicate instant cases false premise lacked jurisdiction hear nrab panel failed conform confine matters congress placed within scope nrab jurisdiction first pp mandatory prescriptions however emphatic properly typed jurisdictional arbaugh jurisdiction properly comprehended refers tribunal hear case never forfeited waived contrast rule reduce tribunal adjudicatory domain ordinarily forfeited party asserting rule waits long raise point kontrick ryan example held nonjurisdictional forfeitable provision title vii civil rights act requiring complainants file timely discrimination charge equal employment opportunity commission eeoc proceeding zipes trans world airlines contrast reaffirmed jurisdictional character time limitation filing notice appeal bowles russell requirement parties minor disputes last chance prearbitration attempt settlement conference imposed carriers grievants alike satisfaction obligation condition board adjudicatory authority extends disputes carriers employees grievances interpretation application agreements concerning rates pay rules working conditions slocum delaware quoting first cba grievance procedure followed resort board ordinarily objectionable premature conference requirement independent cba process rooted rla eneral duties section moored nrab stablishment powers duties set first conferencing often informal practice jurisdictional presuit resort eeoc held nonjurisdictional forfeitable zipes conference requirement jurisdictional failure initially submit proof conferencing genre although carrier alleges nrab decisions support characterizing conferencing jurisdictional nrab lacks authority define panels jurisdiction surely panels lack authority furthermore nrab panels variously addressed matter pp neither rla circular one plausibly read require prerequisite nrab exercise jurisdiction submission proof conferencing instructions party submissions jurisdictional rules board recognized conferencing may question dispute proof thereof need accompany party submissions makes sense exclude arbitration stage newly presented data supporting employee grievance cfr evidence carrier opportunity consider prearbitration conferencing fact bearing merits grievance moreover rla respects parties right order conference procedures follow see sixth pp affirmed ginsburg delivered opinion unanimous union pacific railroad company petitioner brotherhood locomotive engineers trainmen general committee adjustment central region writ certiorari appeals seventh circuit december justice ginsburg delivered opinion true take jurisdiction chief justice marshall famously wrote equally true must take jurisdiction right decline exercise jurisdiction given usurp given cohens virginia wheat see marshall marshall chief justice marshall statement bears fine tuning surely starting presumption jurisdiction conferred may decline exercise see fallon manning meltzer shapiro hart wechsler federal courts federal system ed general rule applicable courts also holds administrative agencies directed congress adjudicate particular controversies congress vested national railroad adjustment board hereinafter nrab board jurisdiction adjudicate grievances railroad employees remain unsettled pursuit internal procedures first consider case five nearly identical decisions panel nrab dismissing employee claims lack jurisdiction nrab first div award etc mar app pet cert hereinafter panel decision case panel declared procedural rule raised panel member unprompted parties jurisdictional character therefore commanded threshold dismissal panel characterization hold misconceived congress authorized board prescribe rules presentation processing claims first congress alone controls board jurisdiction presuming authority declare procedural rules jurisdictional panel failed conform confine matters congress placed within scope nrab jurisdiction first panel without authority assume jurisdiction employees claim panel decision dismissals lacked tenable grounding therefore affirm judgment seventh circuit setting aside panel orders concerned labor disputes lead strikes bringing railroads halt congress enacted railway labor act rla act stat amended et promote peaceful efficient resolution disputes see union pacific price act instructs labor industry exert every reasonable effort make maintain agreements concerning rates pay rules working conditions settle disputes whether arising application agreements otherwise order avoid interruption commerce operation carrier first see trainmen jacksonville terminal describing obligation pursue agreement heart rla part endeavor congress provided framework settlement voluntary arbitration minor disputes see price railroad industry term minor disputes means primarily grievances arising application collective bargaining agreements particular situations many railroads however resisted voluntary arbitration see congress therefore amended act amendment mandate arbitration minor disputes altered scheme arbitration occurs panels composed two representatives labor two industry neutral referee serving tiebreaker see supply representative arbitrators congress established nrab board private persons representing labor industry equal numbers first see trainmen chicago neutral referees rla provides shall appointed representative arbitrators failing agreement national mediation board first amendment authorized nrab adopt session rules deems necessary control proceedings first product rulemaking codified cfr pt known circular one keeping congress aim promote peaceful settlement minor disputes rla requires employees carriers resorting arbitration exhaust grievance procedures specified agreement hereinafter cba see first stage process known proceedings final prearbitration step act directs parties attempt settlement conference designated representatives carrier second rla contains instructions concerning place time conferences specifies statute supersede provisions agreement conferences effect parties sixth undisputed common practice conference may informal telephone conversation parties fail achieve resolution usual manner including chief operating officer carrier designated handle minor disputes either party may refer matter nrab first submissions board must include full statement facts supporting data bearing upon disputes ibid see cfr submissions must clearly briefly set forth relevant argumentative facts including documentary evidence arbitration launched party referring dispute files notice intent nrab board acknowledgment notice parties days file simultaneous submissions nrab uniform rules procedure rev june creating scheme mandatory arbitration superintended nrab amendment largely foreclose litigation minor disputes price see railway conductors pitney congress designated agency peculiarly competent handle minor disputes also intended leave minimum responsibility congress provide employee obtained monetary award carrier sue enforce either enforce award set aside price first addition limited role courts appeals noted price reviewed awards claimed result denial due process law citing ellerd southern pacific barnett seashore lines congress amended scheme time state grounds employees railroads seek judicial review nrab orders governing provision still force allows parties aggrieved nrab panel order petition review first provision instructs review findings order division shall conclusive parties except order may set aside whole part remanded failure division comply requirements rla failure order conform confine matters within scope division jurisdiction fraud corruption member division making order courts appeals divided whether provision precludes judicial review nrab proceedings due process violations compare shaffi plc british airways review available edelman western airlines kinross utah review precluded instant matter arose petitioner union pacific railroad hereinafter carrier charged five employees disciplinary violations union brotherhood locomotive engineers trainmen hereinafter union initiated grievance proceedings pursuant cba union asserts following exhaustion grievance proceedings parties conferenced disputes counsel carrier conceded argument least two disputes conferenced tr oral arg dissatisfied outcome proceedings union sought arbitration first division nrab union carrier early filed simultaneous submissions five cases submission union included notice discipline discharge hearing transcript exhibits evidence relating underlying adverse actions used grievance proceeding neither party mentioned conferencing disputed matter yet case parties necessarily knew whether union carrier conferred board governing rule instructs carriers employees set forth relevant argumentative facts cfr march prior hearing employees claims one industry representatives arbitration panel raised objection petition review vacate awards orders first div nrab nd hereinafter pet review initiative unprompted carrier executive session industry representative asserted record included proof conferencing see ibid carrier thereafter embraced panel member objection neutral referee informed union issue adjourned hearing allowing union submit evidence conferencing fact occurred see union offering phone logs handwritten notes correspondence parties evidence conferencing five cases panel decision first notice objection however union maintained issue untimely raised indeed forfeited carrier objected prior date set argument cases pet review march nearly one year question conferencing first arose panel five identical decisions dismissed petitions want authority assume jurisdiction claim panel decision citing circular one see supra weight arbitral precedent panel stated evidentiary record must deemed closed notice intent filed nrab panel decision explaining record supplemented meet objection panel emphasized appellate tribunal opposed one empowered consider rule de novo evidence arguments two labor representatives dissented carrier submissions reasoned took exception based failure conference prove conferencing therefore concluded well settled principle governing board deliberations carrier forfeited issue dissenters urged union furnished evidence showing cases conferenced even though relevant collective bargaining agreement require conferencing dismissal claims dissenters charged demonstrated kind gamesmanship breeds contempt minor dispute process union filed petition review district northern district illinois asking set aside board orders ground panel unlawfully held lacked authority assume jurisdiction cases absent evidence parties record pet review nothing act nrab procedural rules union maintained mandated dismissal failure allege prove conferencing union original submission imposing without warrant technical pleading evidentiary requirement elevating jurisdictional status union charged panel egregiously violate act fail ed conform jurisdiction required law alternatively union asserted panel violated procedural due process entertaining carrier untimely objection even though carrier failed raise objection lack conferencing submissions district affirmed board orders addressing union argument issue untimely raised accepted panel description issue jurisdictional noted familiar proposition jurisdictional challenges may raised stage proceedings supp appeal seventh circuit recognized union presented case statutory constitutional framework observed however essence conflict boils single question written documentation conference record necessary prerequisite arbitration nrab ibid determined prerequisite statute regulation cba concluded required evidence conferencing presented record instead resting decision union primary argument panel erred ruling lacked jurisdiction cases appeals reversed ground nrab proceedings incompatible due process see ii granted carrier petition certiorari asked us determine whether reviewing may set aside nrab orders failure comply due process notwithstanding limited grounds review specified first earlier recounted courts appeals divided issue see supra appearing respondent however union urged affirmance seventh circuit judgment alternative ground reasserting lead argument advanced petition review see supra union maintained board conform confine matters within scope jurisdiction first brief respondent response carrier stated union alternative ground presents pure question law th resolve without need remand reply brief agree long respondent seek modify judgment true well accepted respondent may without filing rely upon matter appearing record support judgment blum bacon seventh circuit observed see supra understood union pressed statutory constitutional arguments also comprehended arguments homed single question written documentation conference record necessary prerequisite arbitration nrab answering single question negative appeals effectively resolved union core complaint reasons far apparent declared answer key question adjudication due process claim unavoidable ibid seventh circuit agree asked right question inappropriately placed answer constitutional rather statutory headline appeals determined discuss infra nothing act elevates jurisdictional status obligation conference minor disputes prove conferencing unavoidable conclusion following seventh circuit answer key question panel first words failed conform confine matters within scope jurisdiction carrier although sought different outcome quite right urg appeals consider statutory claim constitutional one short negative answer single question identified appeals leaves doubt union entitlement accord first vacation board orders given statutory ground relief due process issue alive case warrant answer question may consequential another case absent grounds specified first vacating board order may reviewing set aside nrab adjudication incompatibility due process answer question must await case issue genuinely case however grant certiorari enables us address matter importance reduce confusion clouding well board decisions matters properly typed jurisdictional iii recognizing word jurisdiction used courts including convey many many meanings steel citizens better environment internal quotation marks omitted cautioned recent decisions profligate use term mandatory prescriptions however emphatic properly typed jurisdictional explained arbaugh internal quotation marks omitted jurisdiction properly comprehended emphasized refers tribunal power hear case matter never forfeited waived quoting cotton contrast rule even unalterable party application reduce adjudicatory domain tribunal ordinarily forfeited party asserting rule waits long raise point kontrick ryan example held nonjurisdictional forfeitable provision title vii civil rights act et requiring complainants file timely charge discrimination equal employment opportunity commission eeoc proceeding zipes trans world airlines also held nonjurisdictional forfeitable title vii provision exempting employers engage fewer employees arbaugh determined chapter trustee creditor limited time object debtor discharge see fed rule bkrtcy proc jurisdictional matter kontrick contrast relying long line decisions left undisturbed congress reaffirmed jurisdictional character time limitation filing notice appeal stated bowles russell see also john sand gravel must consider sua sponte timeliness lawsuit filed federal claims decisions mind turn back requirement parties minor disputes last chance prearbitration attempt settlement conference second sixth see supra obligation imposed carriers grievants alike hold satisfaction condition adjudicatory authority board board jurisdiction extends disputes carriers employees grievances interpretation application agreements concerning rates pay rules working conditions slocum delaware quoting first true rla instructs reference arbitration dispute shall handled usual manner including designated chief operating officer first cba grievance procedure followed resort board ordinarily objectionable premature additional requirement conference note independent cba process rather conference requirement stated eneral duties section rla section moored stablishment powers duties nrab set next first rooted often informal practice see supra conferencing surely jurisdictional presuit resort eeoc held forfeitable zipes requirement conference jurisdictional failure initially submit proof conferencing genre see part infra defense board characterization conferencing proof thereof jurisdictional carrier points nrab circular one procedural regulations see supra provide petition shall considered division board unless subject matter handled accordance provisions rla cfr provision prescriptions circular one rule congress gave board authority adopt rules jurisdictional dimension see first authorizing nrab adopt rules deems necessary control proceedings respective divisions conflict provisions section fact conferencing genuinely contested see reason panel adjourn proceeding pending cure lapse circular one exclude sensible solution carrier cites nrab decisions allegedly support characterization conferencing jurisdictional nrab lacks authority define jurisdiction panels however surely panels lack authority furthermore nrab panels variously addressed matter example nrab third div award panel although characterizing conferencing requirement jurisdictional said one parties refuses fails avail conference opportunity assert defense lack jurisdiction see also nrab fourth div award june nrab third div award cf arbaugh unrefined uses word jurisdiction entitled precedential effect internal quotation marks omitted nrab first div award apr panel observed ordinary remedy lack conferencing dismiss th claim without prejudice allow claimant cure jurisdictional defect panel reached merits nevertheless ibid cf steel jurisdiction power declare law ceases exist function remaining tribunal announcing fact dismissing cause quoting ex parte mccardle wall note addition acknowledgment carrier counsel conferencing occurred nrab panels stayed arbitration allow parties confer tr oral arg rla provides proceedings yield settlement parties either party may refer case board full statement facts supporting data bearing upon disputes first circular one correspondingly instructs employees seeking board adjudication set forth relevant argumentative facts affirmatively show presented carrier made part particular question dispute cfr see similar instruction addressed carriers conferencing carrier urged relevant argumentative fac proof thereof must accompany party submissions earlier explained see supra instructions party submissions essentially pleading instructions jurisdictional rules moreover board recognized conferencing may question dispute counseled parties submitting joint exhibits omit documents unimportant irrelevant disposition case example letters requesting conference assuming issue dispute nrab instructions sheet joint exh program july online http visited available clerk case file bears repetition neither union carrier submissions board identified conferencing question dispute see supra makes sense exclude arbitration stage newly presented data support employee grievance cfr evidence carrier opportunity consider prearbitration contrary rule sandbag carrier conferencing fact bearing merits grievance indeed may disagreement occurrence conferencing union believed case moreover rla respects right parties order conference procedures follow see sixth othing chapter shall construed supersede provisions agreement conferences effect sum neither rla circular one plausibly read require prerequisite nrab exercise jurisdiction submission proof conferencing refusing adjudicate cases false premise lacked power hear nrab panel failed conform confine jurisdiction congress gave therefore affirm judgment appeals seventh circuit ordered footnotes contrast minor disputes assume existence collective agreement major disputes formation collective agreements efforts secure look acquisition rights future assertion rights claimed vested past elgin burley rla divides nrab four divisions covering specified classes railroad employees first central instant controversy second sixth read full second consideration disputes representatives disputes carrier carriers employees shall considered possible decided expedition conference representatives designated authorized confer respectively carrier carriers employees thereof interested dispute sixth conference representatives time place private agreements case dispute carrier carriers employees arising grievances interpretation application agreements concerning rates pay rules working conditions shall duty designated representative representatives carrier carriers employees within ten days receipt notice desire part either party confer respect dispute specify time place conference shall held provided place specified shall situated upon line carrier involved otherwise mutually agreed upon time specified shall allow designated conferees reasonable opportunity reach place conference shall exceed twenty days receipt notice provided nothing chapter shall construed supersede provisions agreement conferences effect parties disagreement stems per curiam opinion union pacific sheehan case involved nrab decision turning time limitation contained governing cba based limitation board dismissed employee claim tenth circuit remanded case nrab ground board failed consider employee equitable tolling argument thereby violated due process summarily reversed observing board fact considered plea equitable tolling explicitly rejected added appeals intended reverse nrab rejection employee equitable tolling argument exceeded bounds first placed review authority determining whether cba time limitation tolled said board certainly acting within jurisdiction conformity act ibid panel observed however records notes offered union face may regarded supportive position conference occurred panel decision quoted supra grounds failure division comply rla requirements failure order conform confine matters within scope division jurisdiction fraud corruption member division making order case order uncommon carrier acknowledges many cases reviewing ostensibly due process objections accommodated within statutory framework brief petitioner see also statutory review provisions plainly generous enough permit litigants raise simple common easily adjudicated likely meritorious claims sail flag due process law rla first general duty settle disputes second specific duty conference provisions apply disputes railroad industry major well minor also apply disputes airline industry nrab jurisdiction neither provision speak jurisdictional terms refer way jurisdiction nrab zipes holding panel lack jurisdiction employees claims recognize board authority adopt rules backed effective sanctions see supra cf fed rule civ proc specifying sanctions including dismissal failure comply discovery orders rule authorizing involuntary dismissal failure prosecute comply rules procedure orders also recognize nrab panels managing individual arbitrations may prescribe enforce reasonable procedural requirements