{"argument_date":"2018-10-31T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2018-10-31T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2018","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Fisher argued the IOIA grants immunity equal to foreign governments.","Mr. Verrilli argued the IOIA prescribes a fixed standard of absolute immunity.","Mr. Ellis discussed the text of Section 288a.","Justice Breyer questioned the consistency of statutory changes with original purpose."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 23-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme 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Transcript — file page 25, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 30-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 30-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 32-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 32-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 8-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 13-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 28-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 31-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 31-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 29-30"}]}],"caption":"Jam v. International Finance Corp.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:20.490128Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:20.509445Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the sides that brought the case seek to sue the International Finance Corporation. the opposing sides claim statutory immunity blocks the claim.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 35-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 32-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 32-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 13-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 31-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 31-28"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2018-10-31T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2018","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/17-1011.html","primary_docket":"17-1011","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T18:09:55.601737Z","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 the scope of immunity for international organizations under the International Organizations Immunities Act."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 35-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 32-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 32-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 13-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 31-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 31-28"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 31, 2018."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 8-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 29-30"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the Court to allow their lawsuit to proceed.","the opposing sides want the Court to uphold the lower court dismissal."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 35-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 32-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 32-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 13-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 31-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 31-28"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue the statute grants only the same immunity as foreign governments.","the opposing sides argue the statute prescribes a fixed standard of virtual absolute immunity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 35-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 32-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 32-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 13-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 31-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 31-28"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked if the President can decrease immunity.","Justice Breyer asked about the statutory purpose regarding organization location."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 23-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 20-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 32-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 32-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 16-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 16-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 21-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 21-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 35-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 35-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 14-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 14-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 32-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 32-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 30-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 30-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 28-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 29-30"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute determines whether private parties can sue international organizations in U.S. courts."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 35-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 32-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 32-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 13-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 31-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 31-28"}]},{"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 23-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 23-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 20-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 32-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 32-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 16-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 16-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 21-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 21-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 35-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 35-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 14-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 14-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 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10-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 28-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 29-30"}]}],"slug":"2018-17-1011-jam-v-international-finance-corp","term":"2018","title":"Does the 1945 statute grant international organizations absolute immunity from suit?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 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31-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-1011_h315.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 31-28"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}