October Term 2003 · Docket 02-628
Can sovereign immunity block enforcement of a federal consent decree?
the sides that brought the case seek to enforce a consent decree. the opposing sides claim sovereign immunity bars that enforcement.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — 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
Ms. Zinn argued sovereign immunity should not bar enforcement.
She noted the district court found ongoing federal law violations.
Mr. Cruz asked if district courts are immune from sovereign immunity.
He stated federal law requires a specific outcome here.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 23-25
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether sovereign immunity stops a federal court from enforcing a consent decree.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 7-11
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 7, 2003.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 23-25
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the court to enforce the consent decree.
the opposing sides want the court to dismiss the enforcement action.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 7-11
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue sovereign immunity does not bar enforcement here.
the opposing sides argue sovereign immunity protects them from this enforcement.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 7-11
What the justices asked
Does sovereign immunity bar enforcement of this consent decree?
Did the district court waive any immunity objections?
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 23-25
Why it matters
This dispute defines the limits of sovereign immunity in federal courts. It shapes how consent decrees operate in practice. It affects the ability of courts to enforce federal law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 7-11
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 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 23-25
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 17, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 7-11
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.