October Term 2015 · Docket 15-233
Can Puerto Rico Restructure Public Utility Debts?
Puerto Rico seeks to restructure utility debts. Lenders argue federal law blocks this.
Verified source milestones
- — 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. Landau argued Congress stripped Puerto Rico of restructuring tools.
Mr. McGill stated Congress withdrew Chapter 9 power in 1984.
justice_breyer_questioned_statutory_text
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Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 22-32 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 22-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 36-44 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 36-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 10-32 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 10-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 40-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 26-46 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 26-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 48-20 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 48-20
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Puerto Rico wants to restructure utility debts. Lenders want to keep full payment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 26-46 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 26-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-18
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 22, 2016.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-20
What each side wants
Puerto Rico wants to restructure utility debts.
Lenders want to enforce full contract payment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 26-46 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 26-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-18
What each side says
Puerto Rico argues federal law allows restructuring.
Lenders argue the Contract Clause blocks changes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 26-46 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 26-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-18
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked where the statute includes Puerto Rico.
Justice Ginsburg asked about the Contract Clause bar.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 22-32 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 22-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 36-44 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 36-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 10-32 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 10-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 40-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 48-20 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 48-20
Why it matters
This case defines Puerto Rico's debt restructuring power. It affects essential utility services for residents.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 26-46 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 26-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-18
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 11, lines 22-32 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 22-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 36-44 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 36-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 10-32 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 10-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 40-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 48-20 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 48-20
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 26-46 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 26-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 26-46 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 26-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-18
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.