{"argument_date":"2005-02-23T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2005-02-23T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Smiland argued the 1986 judgment confirms the right to sue in district court.","Mr. Minear argued sovereign immunity bars the suit because the waiver is limited.","Justice Breyer questioned whether the statute allows suits in any court or only the Claims Court."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 33-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 12-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 12-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 30-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 30-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 4-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 4-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 24-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 34-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-13"}]}],"caption":"Orff v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.575659Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the sides that brought the case seek district court jurisdiction for a contract claim. The government argues sovereign immunity bars this suit.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 33-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 12-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 12-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 19-19"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2005-02-23T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/03-1566.html","primary_docket":"03-1566","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T14:51:08.490632Z","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":["The case tests whether a specific statute waives sovereign immunity for contract claims in district court. the sides that brought the case argue the 1986 judgment confirms their right to sue there. The government contends the waiver is limited to the Court of Claims."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 33-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 12-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 12-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 19-19"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 23, 2005."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 4-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 4-10"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the district court to hear their breach of contract claim.","The government wants the case dismissed for lack of jurisdiction."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 33-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 12-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 12-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 19-19"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue the 1986 judgment confirms their right to sue in district court.","The government argues the statute only waives immunity for the Court of Claims."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 33-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 12-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 12-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 19-19"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked why the district court gave the sides that brought the case three chances to transfer the claim.","Justice Breyer asked how the sides that brought the case could sue in district court if the statute requires the Claims Court."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 30-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 30-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 24-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 34-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-13"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute defines where citizens can sue the government for broken water contracts. It clarifies the scope of sovereign immunity waivers. The outcome shapes access to federal courts for contract disputes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 33-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 12-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 12-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 19-19"}]},{"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 3, lines 30-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 30-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 4-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 4-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 24-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 34-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-13"}]}],"slug":"2004-03-1566-orff-v-united-states","term":"2004","title":"Can a party sue the government in district court for breach of a water contract?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 33-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 12-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 12-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1566.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 19-19"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}