October Term 2015 · Docket 14-1175
Can a state sue another state for torts committed against its residents?
California seeks to sue Nevada for injuries to Californians. Nevada claims sovereign immunity blocks the suit.
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
Clement argued states feared bankruptcy from citizen suits.
Farr argued against overruling the Nevada v. Hall precedent.
sotomayor_questioned_if_states_are_forced_to_waive_immunity
kagan_noted_states_can_retaliate_against_each_other
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 28-22 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 28-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 12-12 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 12-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-26 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 44-4 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 44-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-40 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 44-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 30-30 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 30-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 30-34
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
California wants to recover damages for injuries to its residents. Nevada argues the Constitution bars suits against states.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 28-22 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 28-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 44-4 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 44-4
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 7, 2015.
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 40-48 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 40-48
What each side wants
California wants to sue Nevada for torts against its residents.
Nevada wants to keep its immunity from such suits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 28-22 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 28-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 44-4 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 44-4
What each side says
California argues states can sue each other for torts.
Nevada argues sovereign immunity blocks all such suits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 28-22 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 28-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 44-4 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 44-4
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if states are forced to waive immunity.
Justice Kagan noted states can retaliate against each other.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 12-12 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 12-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-26 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-40 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 44-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 30-30 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 30-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 30-34
Why it matters
This case defines state power over interstate tort claims. It shapes how states handle cross-border injuries.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 28-22 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 28-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 44-4 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 44-4
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 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 12-12 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 12-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-26 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-40 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 44-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 30-30 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 30-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 30-34
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 26, lines 28-22 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 28-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 44-4 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 44-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 28-22 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 28-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 44-4 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 44-4
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.