October Term 2011 · Docket 10-1491
Can corporations face liability under the Alien Tort Statute?
the sides that brought the case seek corporate liability for human rights abuses. the opposing sides argue international law bars such claims.
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
Mr. Hoffman argued that aiding and abetting is a conduct-regulating norm.
Ms. Sullivan stated that no customary international law source holds corporations liable.
Mr. Kneedler argued the lower court erred in its categorical ruling.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-42 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 4-16 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 4-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 34-46 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 34-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 6-22 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 6-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 40-14 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 40-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-22 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-36 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 24-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 30-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 30-38
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether the Alien Tort Statute allows suits against corporations for human rights violations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 34-46 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 34-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 6-22 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 6-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 8-18
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 28, 2012.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 8-18
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to allow corporate liability under the statute.
the opposing sides want the Court to bar corporate liability under the statute.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 34-46 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 34-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 6-22 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 6-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 8-18
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the lower court erred by categorically barring corporate liability.
the opposing sides argue no international law source holds corporations liable for these offenses.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 34-46 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 34-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 6-22 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 6-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 8-18
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if all judges interpret the relevant opinion the same way.
Justice Kennedy asked if international law recognizes corporate responsibility for these offenses.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-42 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 4-16 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 4-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 40-14 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 40-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-22 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-36 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 24-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 30-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 30-38
Why it matters
This dispute determines whether corporations face legal accountability for human rights abuses abroad.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 34-46 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 34-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 6-22 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 6-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 8-18
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 20-24 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-42 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 4-16 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 4-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 40-14 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 40-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-22 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-36 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 24-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 30-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 30-38
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 15, lines 34-46 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 34-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 6-22 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 6-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 34-46 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 34-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 6-22 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 6-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 8-18
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.