October Term 2009 · Docket 138 ORIG.
Can private water users join a state water dispute?
South Carolina and North Carolina fight over Catawba River water. Private entities want to join the case.
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
South Carolina argues private users lack a separate compelling interest.
North Carolina argues private users are directly affected by the outcome.
Justice Scalia questioned the practical impact of denying intervention.
Justice Ginsburg noted trial judges have discretion on intervention rules.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 41-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 41-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 35-35
- 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 21-27 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-27
- 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 29-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-49
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
South Carolina seeks equitable apportionment of the Catawba River. North Carolina opposes this request. Private entities want to intervene in the dispute.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 41-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 41-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 35-35
- 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 21-27 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-27
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 13, 2009.
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 59, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-31
What each side wants
South Carolina wants equitable apportionment of the river.
North Carolina wants to limit South Carolina's water use.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 41-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 41-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 35-35
- 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 21-27 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-27
What each side says
South Carolina argues private users lack standing to intervene.
North Carolina argues private users have a compelling interest.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 41-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 41-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 35-35
- 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 21-27 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-27
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked why private entities should not intervene.
Justice Ginsburg asked about trial judge discretion on intervention.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-49
Why it matters
This case defines who can join state water disputes. It affects how states manage shared river resources. It clarifies the role of private users in interstate conflicts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 41-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 41-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 35-35
- 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 21-27 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-27
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 37-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-9
- 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 29-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-49
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 17, lines 41-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 41-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 35-35
- 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 21-27 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 41-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 41-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 35-35
- 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 21-27 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-27
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.