October Term 2001 · Docket 01-651
Do British Virgin Islands corporations count as foreign citizens for federal court access?
JP Morgan Chase and Traffic Stream dispute whether a BVI company qualifies as a foreign citizen under federal diversity rules.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Sarah Reid argued the statute grants jurisdiction over foreign subjects.
Michael Minear argued the plain language includes UK territories.
David Albert argued the statute excludes broad alien categories.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-41 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 7-9
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests if a British Virgin Islands corporation counts as a foreign citizen. This status controls access to federal courts for diversity cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-41 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 17, 2002.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
What each side wants
JP Morgan Chase wants the Court to treat the BVI company as a foreign citizen.
Traffic Stream wants the Court to reject that foreign citizen status.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-41 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
What each side says
JP Morgan Chase argues the statute plainly covers UK overseas territory corporations.
Traffic Stream argues the statute limits jurisdiction to specific citizen categories.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-41 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Rehnquist asked if the case was submitted.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 7-9
Why it matters
This dispute defines who can sue in federal courts. It shapes access for companies from overseas territories. It affects the balance of state and federal judicial power.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-41 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 7-9
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-41 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-41 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.