October Term 2009 · Docket 08-911
Does the statute bar courts from reviewing immigration reopen denials?
The dispute centers on whether federal courts can review denials of motions to reopen immigration cases.
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
Ms. Leiter argued Congress enacted the law to reduce federal court burdens.
Ms. Saharsky argued the statute does not bar review of reopen denials.
Mr. Schoenfield argued Congress limited review only to specific subchapter authorities.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-25 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 43-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-17
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of judicial review over immigration decisions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-25 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 43-25
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 10, 2009.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants a court to review the denial of his motion to reopen.
The government wants to block court review of the denial.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-25 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 43-25
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the statute does not bar review of reopen denials.
The government argues the statute strictly limits review of discretionary decisions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-25 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 43-25
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked which statutory provision controls the regulation's validity.
Justice Kennedy asked if the statute implies no discretion absent the regulation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-17
Why it matters
The outcome defines the boundary between executive discretion and judicial oversight in immigration law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-25 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 43-25
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 45-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-17
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 13, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-25 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 43-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-25 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 43-25
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.