October Term 2007 · Docket 06-984
Can a President's memo bind state courts to follow an international court order?
Medellin argues a presidential memo makes an ICJ order binding. Texas argues the memo lacks legal force.
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
Donovan argued treaties require compliance with ICJ decisions.
Cruz argued the memo is not binding federal law.
Roberts asked who enforces treaty constraints domestically.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-41
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Medellin seeks a state court review of his sentence. Texas refuses to follow the international order.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 41-9
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 10, 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 61, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-3
What each side wants
Medellin wants Texas courts to review his sentence.
Texas wants to ignore the international court order.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 41-9
What each side says
Medellin claims treaties and a memo create binding federal law.
Texas claims the memo does not create binding federal law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 41-9
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if treaties can require unconstitutional state acts.
Justice Ginsburg asked if the ICJ ever orders specific sentences.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-41
Why it matters
This case defines the power of presidential memos. It determines if international orders bind state courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 41-9
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 51-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-9
- 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 13-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-41
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 23, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 41-9
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.