{"argument_date":"2017-01-09T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2017-01-09T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2016","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","paragraphs":["The victim's lawyer argued the suit targets the employee personally.","The tribe's lawyer argued the tribe seeks standard sovereign protections.","Justice Sotomayor noted prior law might grant immunity to tribal officials."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 38-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 38-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 48-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 48-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 12-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 12-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 44-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 44-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 4-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 4-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 8-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 26-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 44-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 44-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 52-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 16-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 16-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 32-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 32-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 44-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 8-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 8-14"}]}],"caption":"Lewis v. Clarke","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:21.825225Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"A car crash victim sued a tribal employee personally. The tribe claims this violates its sovereign immunity.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 44-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 44-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 4-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 4-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-6"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2017-01-09T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2016","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/15-1500.html","primary_docket":"15-1500","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T18:47:46.749497Z","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 personal-capacity suits against tribal employees trigger sovereign immunity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 44-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 44-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 4-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 4-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-6"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 9, 2017."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The victim wants to recover damages from the employee personally.","The tribe wants the court to dismiss the suit as barred by immunity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 44-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 44-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 4-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 4-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-6"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The victim argues personal suits do not implicate sovereign immunity.","The tribe argues it deserves the same immunity as other sovereigns."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 44-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 44-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 4-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 4-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-6"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked if foreign embassy employees enjoy similar immunity.","Justice Kennedy asked if suing in tribal court would yield recovery from the tribe."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 38-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 38-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 48-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 48-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 12-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 12-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 8-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 26-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 44-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 44-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 52-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 16-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 16-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 32-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 32-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 44-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 8-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 8-14"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute defines the scope of tribal immunity in personal injury cases. It determines whether individuals can sue tribal employees directly. The outcome shapes legal protections for tribal governments and injured parties."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 44-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 44-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 4-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 4-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-6"}]},{"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 11, lines 38-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 38-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 48-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 48-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 12-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 12-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 8-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 26-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 44-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 44-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 52-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 16-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 16-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 32-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 32-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 44-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 8-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 8-14"}]}],"slug":"2016-15-1500-lewis-v-clarke","term":"2016","title":"Does suing a tribal employee personally violate tribal sovereign immunity?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 44-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 44-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 4-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 4-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1500_5g68.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-6"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}