October Term 2015 · Docket 14-1209
Does ANILCA strip the Park Service of authority to regulate navigable waters in Alaska?
The dispute centers on whether federal law removed the Park Service's power to manage water access in Alaska.
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
Justice Sotomayor questioned the statutory text regarding navigable waters.
Justice Kennedy asked if the waters are conceded to be navigable.
advocate_contention
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 30-50 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 30-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 42-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 42-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 38-8 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 38-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 12-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 38-38 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 38-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 52-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 52-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-28 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 22-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 40-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 36-34 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 36-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 36-38
- 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 34-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 26-30
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of federal water management authority in Alaska.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 30-50 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 30-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 38-8 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 38-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 36-34 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 36-34
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 20, 2016.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 36-38
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to affirm the lower court's action.
the opposing side wants the Court to reverse the lower court's action.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 30-50 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 30-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 38-8 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 38-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 36-34 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 36-34
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues ANILCA stripped the Park Service of water regulation authority.
the opposing side argues Congress retained the Park Service's preexisting water authorities.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 30-50 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 30-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 38-8 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 38-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 36-34 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 36-34
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if the law excludes navigable waters.
Justice Sotomayor asked about the scope of federal jurisdiction over waters.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 42-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 42-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 12-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 38-38 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 38-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 52-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 52-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-28 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 22-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 40-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 36-38
- 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 34-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 26-30
Why it matters
This case defines federal control over Alaska's waterways. It determines who manages access to these resources. It shapes the balance between state and federal power.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 30-50 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 30-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 38-8 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 38-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 36-34 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 36-34
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 42-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 42-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 12-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 38-38 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 38-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 52-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 52-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-28 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 22-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 40-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 36-38
- 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 34-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 26-30
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 21, lines 30-50 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 30-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 38-8 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 38-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 36-34 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 36-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 30-50 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 30-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 38-8 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 38-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 36-34 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 36-34
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.