October Term 2009 · Docket 132 ORIG.
Must North Carolina finish the nuclear waste compact?
Alabama demands North Carolina complete a shared nuclear waste facility. North Carolina claims the project is too costly to finish.
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
Alabama's lawyer argued North Carolina breached the compact.
North Carolina's lawyer argued the project is not based on coercion.
Justices questioned the financial feasibility of completing the facility.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 35-19 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 35-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 15-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Alabama seeks a court order forcing North Carolina to finish a nuclear waste facility. North Carolina argues the project costs exceed reasonable expectations. The dispute centers on a compact between the two states.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 35-19 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 35-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 15-7
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 11, 2010.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 21-29
What each side wants
Alabama wants a court order forcing North Carolina to finish the facility.
North Carolina wants to stop work because the project is too expensive.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 35-19 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 35-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 15-7
What each side says
Alabama argues North Carolina breached the compact by quitting the project.
North Carolina argues the project costs exceed reasonable expectations at signing.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 35-19 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 35-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 15-7
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked why pursue a license without funding.
Justice Sotomayor asked about the reasonable cost of completion.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-47
Why it matters
This case defines state obligations in shared infrastructure compacts. It determines whether one state can abandon a joint project. The outcome affects taxpayer funds and nuclear waste management.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 35-19 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 35-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 15-7
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 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-47
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 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 35-19 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 35-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 35-19 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 35-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 15-7
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.