October Term 2004 · Docket 03-814
Does a stationary vessel qualify as a ship under the Jones Act?
The dispute centers on whether a stationary vessel qualifies as a ship under the Jones Act.
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. Blatt argued the side that brought the case worked primarily on the Super Scoop.
Mr. Connelly cited Chandris and Harbor Tug regarding employee separation.
Mr. Kaplan focused on the Shipping Act and its 1916 enactment.
Justice Kennedy asked about the intent component of the proposed test.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 11-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the legal definition of a ship. the side that brought the case seeks coverage under the Jones Act. the opposing side argues the vessel does not meet the statutory definition.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 11-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 25-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 1, 2004.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-41
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to classify the vessel as a ship.
the opposing side wants the Court to deny Jones Act coverage.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 11-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 25-37
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the vessel meets the statutory definition of a ship.
the opposing side argues the vessel fails the statutory definition of a ship.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 11-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 25-37
What the justices asked
Justice O'Connor asked about gambling boats parked on the Mississippi River.
Justice Scalia asked whether the Court should use section 3 as the definition.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-7
Why it matters
The outcome defines which workers receive Jones Act protections. It clarifies the legal status of stationary vessels. It impacts maritime labor law standards.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 11-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 25-37
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 19, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-7
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 37-9 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 11-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 11-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 25-37
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.