October Term 2007 · Docket 06-1666
Can the U.S. government detain a citizen in Iraq to prevent a foreign trial?
The dispute centers on whether federal courts must release a U.S. citizen detained in Iraq to face a foreign criminal trial.
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 government argued that Iraq has the sovereign right to try the detainee.
The detainee argued that federal courts must review his detention claims.
Justices questioned whether executive agreements can remove federal court jurisdiction.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 5-43 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 5-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 51-23
- 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 7-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 21-47 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 21-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-49
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case involves a U.S. citizen detained in Iraq. The government claims it must keep him in custody to prevent a foreign trial. The detainee claims he has a right to challenge his detention in federal court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 49-15
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 25, 2008.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 13-25
What each side wants
The government wants to keep the detainee in U.S. custody to prevent a foreign trial.
The detainee wants a federal court to order his release to face the foreign trial.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 49-15
What each side says
The government argues that Iraq has sovereign jurisdiction to try the detainee for crimes committed there.
The detainee argues that federal courts have jurisdiction to review his detention under habeas corpus.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 49-15
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if the lack of a formal judgment distinguishes this case from prior precedents.
Justice Souter asked if an executive agreement with a foreign force eliminates habeas jurisdiction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 5-43 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 5-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 21-47 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 21-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-49
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of executive power over citizens abroad. It determines whether federal courts can review detention decisions made to avoid foreign trials. The outcome shapes the balance between national security and individual liberty.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 49-15
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 31-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 5-43 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 5-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 21-47 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 21-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-49
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 27, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 49-15
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.