On March 1, 2021, the Supreme Court of the United States heard argument in United States v. Arthrex on the question of whether administrative patent judges of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office are principal officers of the United States who therefore must be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Just two days later, on March 3, 2021, the Court heard argument in Carr v. Saul, a case about whether Social Security claimants who failed to raise an Appointments Clause challenge to the appointment of SSA administrative law judges at the administrative level waived the argument before the courts.