October Term 2010 · Docket 09-846
Can a tribe sue twice for the same cotton loss?
The tribe seeks a second trial. The government demands a single recovery.
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. Spinelli argued for the tribe.
She said the suits differ.
She cited different operative facts.
Mr. Yang argued for the government. He said the claims match. He cited Section 1500. He argued for a single recovery.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 43-33 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 43-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
- 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 17-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-13
- 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 13-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-41
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on Section 1500. This statute limits duplicate lawsuits. The tribe wants a new trial. The government wants to block it.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 43-33 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 43-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 1, 2010.
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 tribe wants a second trial.
The government wants to stop the second suit.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 43-33 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 43-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
What each side says
The tribe argues the suits differ.
The government argues the claims are identical.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 43-33 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 43-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked about double recovery.
Justice Ginsburg asked about sequential suits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-13
- 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 13-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-41
Why it matters
This case defines duplicate claims. It affects tribal litigation rights. It clarifies federal court jurisdiction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 43-33 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 43-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
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 27-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-37
- 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 17-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-13
- 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 13-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-41
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 24, lines 43-33 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 43-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 43-33 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 43-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
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.