October Term 2013 · Docket 12-138
Who decides if a treaty precondition exists?
BG Group and Argentina dispute who decides if a treaty precondition exists.
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
BG Group argues the treaty creates a standing offer to arbitrate.
Argentina argues this is a contract formation issue for courts.
questions
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-3 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 37-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-42 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-15
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests who decides if a treaty precondition exists.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 37-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-42 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-42
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 2, 2013.
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 54, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-35
What each side wants
BG Group wants an arbitrator to decide the precondition.
Argentina wants a court to decide the precondition.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 37-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-42 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-42
What each side says
BG Group argues the treaty creates a standing offer to arbitrate.
Argentina argues this is a contract formation issue for courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 37-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-42 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-42
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if consent determines the decision-maker.
Justice Alito asked if U.S. law applies to the arbitration.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-3 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-15
Why it matters
This dispute defines the boundary between courts and arbitrators. It shapes how investors enforce treaty rights. It impacts global investment stability.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 37-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-42 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-42
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 31-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-3 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-1
- 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 17-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-15
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 27, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 37-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-42 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 37-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-42 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-42
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.