October Term 2007 · Docket 06-1204
Can U.S. courts settle ownership of assets the Philippines claims were stolen?
The Philippines seeks to stop U.S. courts from deciding who owns assets it claims Ferdinand Marcos stole.
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
Mr. Rothfeld argued the Philippines waived immunity by participating in U.S. litigation. He stated the lower court ignored sovereign immunity principles. He claimed the Philippines would lose on statute of limitations grounds.
Mr. Swift argued no adequate alternative remedy exists for human rights victims. He stated the Philippines has no remedy in either country. He emphasized the lack of effective legal recourse for victims.
Mr. Kneedler argued sovereign immunity must weigh heavily in jurisdictional decisions. He stated that immunity from suit is a critical factor. He contended the court must respect the sovereign status of the Philippines.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-5 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- 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 17-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 37-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 3-16 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 3-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-49
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The Philippines argues U.S. courts lack jurisdiction over its sovereign property. It claims Marcos stole these assets while president. the opposing sides argue U.S. courts can settle ownership disputes. They claim the Philippines waived immunity by participating in the case. The core conflict involves competing claims to the same assets.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-5 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 37-51
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 17, 2008.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 3-16 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 3-16
What each side wants
The Philippines wants U.S. courts to dismiss the case. It wants ownership settled in Philippine courts. It claims sovereign immunity bars U.S. jurisdiction.
the opposing sides want U.S. courts to decide ownership. They want to recover assets they claim were stolen. They argue the Philippines waived immunity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-5 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 37-51
What each side says
The Philippines argues sovereign immunity prevents U.S. courts from adjudicating its property claims. It asserts Philippine courts have exclusive jurisdiction over these assets.
the opposing sides argue the Philippines waived immunity by appearing in U.S. courts. They contend U.S. law governs the ownership dispute.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-5 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 37-51
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if the opposing sides have a right to intervene in Philippine corruption court proceedings.
Justice Souter asked if the Philippines claims all assets in the estate belong to it.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 3-16 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 3-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-49
Why it matters
This case determines whether sovereign immunity bars U.S. courts from resolving property disputes involving foreign governments. It defines the scope of U.S. judicial power over foreign state assets. It impacts how nations protect stolen property abroad. It clarifies the balance between sovereign dignity and private rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-5 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 37-51
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 29-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-21
- 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 17-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 3-16 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 3-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-49
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 19, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-5 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 37-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-5 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 37-51
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.