October Term 2009 · Docket 08-1555
Does the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act shield foreign officials from personal liability?
Plaintiffs sue a former Somali official for human rights abuses. The defendant claims state immunity. The lower court rejected that claim.
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
Shay Dvoretzky argued for Samantar. He stated that the Act applies to officials acting on the state's behalf. He claimed such suits are equivalent to suing the state directly.
Paula Millett argued for Yousuf. She contended the Act was not intended to apply to preexisting common law. She argued the statute does not create a blanket exception for officials.
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 11, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 29-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 29-13
- 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 27-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 27-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-27
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. The Act generally blocks suits against foreign states. It does not explicitly mention individual officials. The core dispute is whether suing an official counts as suing the state.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-39
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 3, 2010.
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 62, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 31-31
What each side wants
Samantar wants the court to dismiss the lawsuit. He argues the Act grants him immunity as a state agent.
Yousuf wants the lawsuit to proceed. He argues the Act does not protect individual officials from personal liability.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-39
What each side says
Samantar argues that suits against officials acting for the state are equivalent to suits against the state itself.
Yousuf argues that the Act was not intended to replace the preexisting common law of official immunity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-39
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if this view would have blocked earlier human rights cases.
Justice Kennedy asked what legal authority supports the proposition that the Act covers officials.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 29-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 29-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 27-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-27
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary between state and individual liability. It determines whether victims can sue foreign officials directly. It shapes the reach of international human rights law in U.S. courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-39
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 11, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 29-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 29-13
- 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 27-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 27-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-27
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 26, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-39
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.