October Term 2007 · Docket 06-134
Does a 1905 compact transfer subaqueous land ownership between states?
New Jersey and Delaware dispute who owns underwater land near a wharf.
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
New Jersey's counsel stated that boundaries determine where states can grant land.
New Jersey's counsel argued that boundaries determine where states exercise police powers.
Delaware's counsel noted the compact lacked detailed language on land transfer.
Delaware's counsel argued New Jersey agreed to dismiss its boundary suit.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-21
- 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 23-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-51
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The states argue over the legal effect of a 1905 compact. They disagree on whether the document transferred land ownership or merely allowed wharf construction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-21
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 27, 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
New Jersey wants the Court to confirm it owns the subaqueous land.
Delaware wants the Court to confirm it owns the subaqueous land.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-21
What each side says
New Jersey argues the compact did not transfer land ownership to Delaware.
Delaware argues the compact implicitly conveyed the land to Delaware.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-21
What the justices asked
Justice Souter asked if New Jersey lacks constitutional power to grant Delaware land.
Justice Alito asked what specific rights New Jersey holds over the subaqueous land now.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-51
Why it matters
State boundaries determine where governments can grant land and enforce environmental laws. This dispute defines the scope of state police powers over shared waterways.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-21
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 25-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-19
- 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 23-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-51
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 26, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-21
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.