October Term 2012 · Docket 11-626
Does a permanently moored houseboat count as a vessel under federal law?
The dispute centers on whether a houseboat permanently moored in a marina qualifies as a vessel for federal jurisdiction.
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. Fisher argued the structure must be practically capable of maritime transportation.
Mr. Frederick argued the houseboat posed a hazard and violated marina rules.
Mr. Gannon argued function is key to determining if a structure is a vessel.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-19
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case asks if a structure used as a home counts as a vessel. The answer determines federal court jurisdiction over local disputes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 49-7
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 1, 2012.
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 55, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 49-7
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to rule the houseboat is not a vessel.
The City wants the Court to rule the houseboat is a vessel.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 49-7
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the structure lacks practical capability for maritime transportation.
The City argues the structure served a transportation function and was moved.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 49-7
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked about the frequency of the term indefinitely moored in the brief.
Justice Scalia questioned the clarity of the proposed legal test for vessels.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-19
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary between local property and federal maritime law. It determines which courts handle disputes over floating structures. The outcome shapes jurisdiction for similar nationwide cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 49-7
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 10, lines 11-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-1
- 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 13-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-19
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 20, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 49-7
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.