October Term 2008 · Docket 07-1239
Should the Navy use sonar for training?
The Navy wants to use sonar for training. Environmental groups want a court order to stop it.
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
General Garre argued sonar training is critical for security.
Mr. Kendall argued the district court finding was supported.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-11
- 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 13-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-3
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The Navy argues sonar training protects national security. Environmental groups argue the court order prevents harm.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-11
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 8, 2008.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
What each side wants
The Navy wants to use sonar for training.
Environmental groups want the court order to stand.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-11
What each side says
The Navy claims sonar training is vital for security.
Environmental groups claim the court order prevents harm.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-11
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked about the temporary stay.
Justice Scalia asked for a repetition of a point.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-3
Why it matters
This case defines the balance between military training and environmental protection.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-11
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 31-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-19
- 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 13-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-3
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 29, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-11
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.