{"argument_date":"2009-01-12T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2009-01-12T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2008","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","paragraphs":["Bederman argued the statute requires a specific statutory construction.","Hallward-Driemeier defended critical U.S. interests before the Claims Tribunal.","Bederman rejected the claim that an arbitral award created a novation."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 9-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 9-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-5"}]}],"caption":"Ministry of Defense and Support for Armed Forces of Islamic Republic of Iran v. Elahi","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.619939Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.644724Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Iran seeks to offset a U.S. court judgment against it. The U.S. government argues the statute prevents this offset.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 9-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 9-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 37-37"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2009-01-12T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2008","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/07-615.html","primary_docket":"07-615","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T02:47:51.372138Z","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 the scope of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act. Iran wants to reduce its debt to a U.S. claimant. The U.S. government says the law blocks this move."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 9-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 9-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 37-37"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 12, 2009."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 39-41"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Iran wants to offset its U.S. judgment debt.","The U.S. government wants to block the offset."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 9-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 9-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 37-37"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Iran argues the statute permits offsetting judgments.","The U.S. government argues the statute prohibits this offset."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 9-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 9-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 37-37"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked about the status of the Cubic appeal.","Chief Justice Roberts asked if a bank account suffices for offset."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-5"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute defines how foreign states settle U.S. judgments. It shapes the balance between sovereign immunity and private rights."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 9-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 9-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 37-37"}]},{"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 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-5"}]}],"slug":"2008-07-615-ministry-of-defense-and-support-for-armed-forces-of-islamic-republic-of-iran-v-e","term":"2008","title":"Does the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act bar Iran from offsetting a U.S. judgment?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 9-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 9-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-615.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 37-37"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}