October Term 2006 · Docket 05-85
Can a party appeal a remand order based on jurisdictional grounds?
The dispute centers on whether federal courts of appeals can review a district court's remand order when the remand rests on jurisdictional grounds rather than procedural defects.
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. Frederick explained Powerex's creation by the British Columbia government.
Mr. Simon asserted two independent reasons for appellate jurisdiction.
Mr. Hallward-Driemeier argued the review bar applies only to specific remands.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 21-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 21-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-17
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Powerex Corp. and Reliant Energy Services, Inc. dispute the scope of appellate jurisdiction over remand orders. The case tests the interaction between statutory removal provisions and the general bar on appealing remands.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 21-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 21-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 16, 2007.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
Powerex wants the appellate court to review the remand order.
Reliant wants the appellate court to dismiss the appeal.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 21-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 21-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
What each side says
Powerex argues the bar on review applies only to procedural remands.
Reliant argues the statutory bar prevents review of any remand order.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 21-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 21-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
What the justices asked
Justice Souter asked if the lower court remanded for jurisdictional reasons.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if statutory changes weaken prior precedent.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-17
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of federal appellate power over state court remands. It clarifies when parties can challenge jurisdictional determinations in federal courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 21-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 21-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
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 25-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-17
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 18, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 21-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 21-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 21-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 21-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
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.