October Term 2009 · Docket 08-1151
Does a state court ruling that redefines property rights violate the Fifth Amendment?
Beachfront owners challenge a Florida law that limits their access to the water.
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
Mr. Safriet argued the ruling violates the Fifth Amendment.
Mr. Kneedler argued the case challenges the legislature's actions.
questions_and_answers
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 49-23 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 49-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-3
- 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 5-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 39-21 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 39-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-41 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether a state court ruling can redefine property rights without triggering federal constitutional protections.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 49-23 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 49-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 39-21 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 39-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-41 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-41
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 2, 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 67, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 11-13
What each side wants
The owners want the Court to strike down the state court ruling.
The state wants the Court to uphold the state court ruling.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 49-23 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 49-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 39-21 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 39-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-41 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-41
What each side says
The owners argue the ruling redefines century-old property rights.
The state argues the ruling interprets existing property law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 49-23 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 49-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 39-21 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 39-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-41 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-41
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked why the event was not an avulsion.
Justice Breyer asked if a noisy stand violates the statute.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-13
Why it matters
This dispute defines the limits of state power over private property rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 49-23 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 49-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 39-21 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 39-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-41 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-41
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 15-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-11
- 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 5-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-13
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 28, lines 49-23 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 49-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 39-21 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 39-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-41 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 49-23 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 49-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 39-21 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 39-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-41 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-41
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.