{"argument_date":"2009-10-13T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2009-10-13T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2009","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","paragraphs":["South Carolina argues private users lack a separate compelling interest.","North Carolina argues private users are directly affected by the outcome.","Justice Scalia questioned the practical impact of denying intervention.","Justice Ginsburg noted trial judges have discretion on intervention rules."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 39-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 41-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 41-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 47-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 47-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-49"}]}],"caption":"South Carolina v. North Carolina","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.263989Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.295340Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"South Carolina and North Carolina fight over Catawba River water. Private entities want to join the case.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 41-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 41-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 47-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 47-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 17-27"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2009-10-13T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2009","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/138%20ORIG..html","primary_docket":"138 ORIG.","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T02:03:32.988714Z","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":["South Carolina seeks equitable apportionment of the Catawba River. North Carolina opposes this request. Private entities want to intervene in the dispute."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 41-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 41-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 47-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 47-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 17-27"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 13, 2009."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 29-31"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["South Carolina wants equitable apportionment of the river.","North Carolina wants to limit South Carolina's water use."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 41-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 41-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 47-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 47-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 17-27"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["South Carolina argues private users lack standing to intervene.","North Carolina argues private users have a compelling interest."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 41-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 41-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 47-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 47-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 17-27"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked why private entities should not intervene.","Justice Ginsburg asked about trial judge discretion on intervention."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 39-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-49"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines who can join state water disputes. It affects how states manage shared river resources. It clarifies the role of private users in interstate conflicts."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 41-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 41-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 47-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 47-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 17-27"}]},{"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 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 39-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-49"}]}],"slug":"2009-138-orig-south-carolina-v-north-carolina","term":"2009","title":"Can private water users join a state water dispute?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 41-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 41-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 47-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 47-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/138-orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 17-27"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}