{"argument_date":"2008-02-19T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2008-02-19T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2007","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Kneedler argued FERC reasonably denied the contract modification request.","Mr. Garre stated FERC believed it retained some interpretive authority.","Mr. Wright emphasized FERC understood itself to lack discretion here."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 41-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 33-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 33-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 25-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 19-31"}]}],"caption":"Morgan Stanley Capital Group Inc. v. Public Utility Distr. No. 1 of Snohomish Cty.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:27.326324Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Morgan Stanley and Snohomish County dispute whether FERC must or may alter existing power contracts.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 33-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 33-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 25-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-17"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2008-02-19T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2007","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/06-1457.html","primary_docket":"06-1457","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T11:42:08.456567Z","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":["Morgan Stanley and Snohomish County dispute whether FERC must or may alter existing power contracts."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 33-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 33-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 25-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 19, 2008."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-23"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Morgan Stanley wants FERC to keep the power contracts unchanged.","Snohomish County wants FERC to modify the power contracts."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 33-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 33-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 25-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Morgan Stanley argues FERC lacks discretion to change the contracts.","Snohomish County argues FERC has authority to modify the contracts."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 33-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 33-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 25-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked if FERC felt bound by Supreme Court orders.","Justice Kennedy asked if FERC authority is retroactive or limited to fraud."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 41-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 19-31"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the limits of federal agency power over private energy contracts."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 33-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 33-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 25-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-17"}]},{"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 10, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 41-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 19-31"}]}],"slug":"2007-06-1457-morgan-stanley-capital-group-inc-v-public-utility-distr-no-1-of-snohomish-cty","term":"2007","title":"Does FERC lack discretion to modify wholesale power contracts?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 33-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 33-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 25-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1457.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-17"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}