{"argument_date":"2020-02-24T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2020-02-24T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2019","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","paragraphs":["McGill stated Sudan provided Al Qaeda safe haven and material support.","Ross argued Landgraf does not require specific magic words for retroactivity.","Curran noted the D.C. Circuit found evidence of intent lacking."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 18-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 18-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 26-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 26-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 48-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 48-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 54-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 54-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 28-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 28-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 48-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 48-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 14-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 14-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 14-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 14-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 36-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 36-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 34-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 34-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 24-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 24-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 22-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 50-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 24-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 24-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 16-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 16-16"}]}],"caption":"Opati v. Republic of Sudan","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:19.288009Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Victims seek retroactive punitive damages against Sudan for 1998 embassy bombings.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 48-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 48-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 24-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 24-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 22-48"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2020-02-24T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2019","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/17-1268.html","primary_docket":"17-1268","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T17:34:09.773241Z","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 whether Congress can apply new damages statutes to past foreign state acts."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 48-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 48-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 24-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 24-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 22-48"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 24, 2020."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-20"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want retroactive punitive damages for the 1998 embassy bombings.","Sudan wants the new damages law to apply only to future acts."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 48-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 48-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 24-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 24-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 22-48"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue the new statute creates a distinct federal cause of action.","Sudan argues the new law cannot retroactively impose punitive damages."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 48-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 48-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 24-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 24-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 22-48"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked where the term solatium comes from in damages.","Justice Kagan asked how the federal claim differs from state law claims."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 18-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 18-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 26-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 26-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 48-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 48-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 54-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 54-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 28-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 28-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 14-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 14-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 14-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 14-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 36-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 36-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 34-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 34-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 50-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 24-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 24-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 16-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 16-16"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute determines whether victims can recover punitive damages for past foreign state acts."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 48-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 48-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 24-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 24-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 22-48"}]},{"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 18-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 18-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 26-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 26-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 48-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 48-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 54-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 54-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 28-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 28-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 14-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 14-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 14-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 14-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 36-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 36-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 34-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 34-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 50-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 24-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 24-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 16-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 16-16"}]}],"slug":"2019-17-1268-opati-v-republic-of-sudan","term":"2019","title":"Can Congress apply new damages laws to past foreign state acts?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 48-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 48-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 24-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 24-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1268_l537.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 22-48"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}