October Term 2005 · Docket 04-1618
Can a county claim sovereign immunity in federal admiralty court?
Chatham County claims state-like immunity. Northern Insurance argues counties lack this protection.
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. Estrada argued the Eleventh Circuit erred in granting immunity.
Mr. Himmelfarb cited precedent establishing that cities and counties lack immunity.
Mr. Hart argued delegated sovereign functions create residual immunity.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 29-1 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 29-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-19
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on whether a county qualifies as an arm of the state. This status grants immunity from federal admiralty suits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 29-1 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 29-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 1, 2006.
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
Northern Insurance wants the Court to deny the county immunity.
Chatham County wants the Court to uphold its immunity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 29-1 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 29-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
What each side says
Northern Insurance argues counties lack sovereign immunity in admiralty cases.
Chatham County argues delegated sovereign functions grant it immunity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 29-1 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 29-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if immunity depends on a case-by-case inquiry.
Justice Scalia asked if an entity can have immunity in admiralty but not elsewhere.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-19
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of county immunity in federal courts. It determines whether local governments face admiralty liability.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 29-1 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 29-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
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 27-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-19
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 13, lines 35-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 29-1 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 29-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 29-1 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 29-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
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.