October Term 2014 · Docket 126 ORIG.
Should the Court revise a water-sharing formula that yields unexpected results?
Kansas and Nebraska dispute whether a court can fix a water-sharing formula that produces unanticipated allocations.
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
Kansas argues the parties accepted the formula's potential inaccuracies during negotiations.
Nebraska argues the Court should correct the formula if it contains a mistake.
The United States argues disgorgement must remain an available remedy for compact breaches.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-43
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Kansas and Nebraska argue over a water-sharing formula. Kansas wants the formula to stay as written. Nebraska wants the Court to fix the formula if it yields errors.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-47
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 14, 2014.
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 56, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 31-33
What each side wants
Kansas wants the Court to keep the water formula unchanged.
Nebraska wants the Court to revise the water formula if it is wrong.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-47
What each side says
Kansas argues the parties agreed to the formula despite potential inaccuracies.
Nebraska argues the Court should fix the formula if it contains a mistake.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-47
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the Court lacks authority to revise a formula that yields unexpected results.
Justice Breyer asked what a court should do when parties agree a formula contains a mistake.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-43
Why it matters
This case defines how courts handle errors in interstate water-sharing agreements. It sets the standard for fixing formulas that produce unanticipated allocations. The outcome affects how states manage shared water resources during scarcity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-47
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 19-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-23
- 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 37-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-43
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 19-43 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-47
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.