October Term 2008 · Docket 07-615
Does the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act bar Iran from offsetting a U.S. judgment?
Iran seeks to offset a U.S. court judgment against it. The U.S. government argues the statute prevents this offset.
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
Bederman argued the statute requires a specific statutory construction.
Hallward-Driemeier defended critical U.S. interests before the Claims Tribunal.
Bederman rejected the claim that an arbitral award created a novation.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-5
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act. Iran wants to reduce its debt to a U.S. claimant. The U.S. government says the law blocks this move.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 37-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 12, 2009.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-41
What each side wants
Iran wants to offset its U.S. judgment debt.
The U.S. government wants to block the offset.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 37-37
What each side says
Iran argues the statute permits offsetting judgments.
The U.S. government argues the statute prohibits this offset.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 37-37
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked about the status of the Cubic appeal.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if a bank account suffices for offset.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-5
Why it matters
This dispute defines how foreign states settle U.S. judgments. It shapes the balance between sovereign immunity and private rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 37-37
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 41-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-5
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 22, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 37-37
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.