October Term 2004 · Docket 03-1696
Does a final state court judgment end a federal dispute?
Exxon Mobil and Saudi Basic Industries dispute whether a final state court judgment ends their federal case.
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
Mr. Coleman argued the case is not moot.
Mr. Castanias argued the case is moot.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-28 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 30-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 30-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 36-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 36-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 4-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 4-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 36-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-24 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 1-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 1-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-6
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Exxon Mobil argues the case remains live. Saudi Basic Industries argues the case is over.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-28 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-28
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 23, 2005.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 4-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 4-13
What each side wants
Exxon Mobil wants the federal court to keep hearing the case.
Saudi Basic Industries wants the federal court to dismiss the case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-28 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-28
What each side says
Exxon Mobil claims an ongoing controversy exists between the parties.
Saudi Basic Industries claims the state judgment ends the dispute.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-28 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-28
What the justices asked
Justice Stevens asked what issues the district court would resolve.
Justice Souter asked what purpose the federal case serves now.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 30-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 30-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 36-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 36-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 4-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 4-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 36-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-24 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 1-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 1-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-6
Why it matters
This case defines when federal courts must stop acting. It clarifies the boundary between state and federal power.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-28 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-28
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 30-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 30-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 36-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 36-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 4-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 4-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 36-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-24 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 1-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 1-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-6
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 22, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-28 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-28 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-28
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.