October Term 2006 · Docket 06-219
Can a rancher sue the government for harassment without a specific property loss?
A rancher claims federal agents harassed him. The government says he lacks a legal remedy.
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
The plaintiff's lawyer argued for a new constitutional tort.
The defendant's lawyer argued against recognizing this new claim.
Justices questioned the specific damages and available remedies.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-15
- 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 35-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-37
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests if a person can sue the government for harassment. The plaintiff seeks damages for alleged interference. The defendant argues no such legal claim exists.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-21
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 19, 2007.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 43-45
What each side wants
The plaintiff wants a new legal right to sue for harassment.
The defendant wants the Court to reject this new legal claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-21
What each side says
The plaintiff argues the Constitution allows a direct lawsuit for harassment.
The defendant argues existing laws do not provide this specific remedy.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-21
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked what specific harm the plaintiff suffered.
Justice Scalia asked what remedy the plaintiff would receive if he won.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-15
- 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 35-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-37
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of government liability for harassment. It determines if citizens can sue for non-property harms. The outcome shapes future interactions between citizens and federal agencies.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 60, 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 3, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-15
- 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 35-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-37
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 11, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 60, 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.