October Term 2004 · Docket 03-1388
Does the ADA cover foreign cruise ships?
American passengers sue a foreign cruise line for disability discrimination.
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
Mr. Goldstein argues U.S. law applies to domestic tickets.
Mr. Garre warns that applying the law creates conflict.
Mr. Salmons states the ADA lacks extraterritorial intent.
Mr. Frederick emphasizes congressional intent over power.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-54 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 31-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests if U.S. disability law applies to foreign-flagged ships.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-54 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 31-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-21
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 28, 2005.
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 47-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 47-7
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the ADA to apply to their foreign cruise.
the opposing side wants the ADA to exclude foreign-flagged vessels.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-54 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 31-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-21
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue U.S. law governs tickets bought domestically.
the opposing side argues applying the law causes international conflict.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-54 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 31-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-21
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asks about the scope of covered ships.
Justice Ginsburg asks if U.S. rules override foreign ports.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-7
Why it matters
This dispute defines the reach of federal disability protections.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-54 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 31-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-21
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 10, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-7
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 20, lines 31-54 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 31-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-54 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 31-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-21
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.