{"argument_date":"2002-02-25T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2002-02-25T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2001","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","paragraphs":["David Bederman argued that removing a case to federal court waives state immunity.","Ms. Parsley argued that only the state legislature can waive sovereign immunity.","Ms. Orland argued that the state removed the case to benefit its employees, not to waive immunity.","Mr. Gornstein argued that removal waives forum immunity for four reasons."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 37-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-58","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-58"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 21-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 21-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 23-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 23-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 11-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 11-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 7-11"}]}],"caption":"Lapides v. Board of Regents of Univ. System of Ga.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:32.423861Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:32.430049Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Paul Lapides argues that Georgia waived its immunity by removing a case to federal court. Georgia argues that only its legislature can waive that immunity.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 37-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-58","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-58"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 21-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 21-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 23-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 23-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 11-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 11-43"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2002-02-25T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2001","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/01-298.html","primary_docket":"01-298","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T17:09:39.740687Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["This case tests whether a state waives its Eleventh Amendment immunity when it removes a lawsuit to federal court. The state argues that only its legislature can consent to such a waiver. The plaintiff argues that the act of removal itself constitutes a voluntary waiver."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 37-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-58","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-58"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 21-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 21-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 23-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 23-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 11-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 11-43"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 25, 2002."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 7-11"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Lapides wants the Court to hold that removing a case to federal court waives state sovereign immunity.","The Board of Regents wants the Court to hold that only the state legislature can waive sovereign immunity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 37-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-58","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-58"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 21-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 21-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 23-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 23-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 11-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 11-43"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Lapides argues that a state affirmatively invokes federal jurisdiction by removing a case, which waives its immunity.","The Board of Regents argues that the decision to waive immunity traditionally rests with the state legislature."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 37-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-58","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-58"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 21-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 21-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 23-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 23-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 11-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 11-43"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Rehnquist asked whether the Court has ever separated forum immunity from immunity for suit."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 7-11"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute determines whether states can remove cases to federal court without waiving their sovereign immunity. It affects the ability of individuals to sue states in federal forums. It impacts the balance between state sovereignty and federal judicial power."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 37-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-58","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-58"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 21-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 21-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 23-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 23-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 11-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 11-43"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 7-11"}]}],"slug":"2001-01-298-lapides-v-board-of-regents-of-univ-system-of-ga","term":"2001","title":"Does removing a case to federal court waive state sovereign immunity?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 37-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-58","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-58"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 21-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 21-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 23-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 23-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 11-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-298.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 11-43"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}