October Term 2015 · Docket 15-290
Does a Corps wetland determination bind private parties?
Hawkes seeks to stop the Corps from enforcing its wetland ruling. The Corps claims the ruling is not final.
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
Malcolm Stewart argued the determination is not final agency action. He stated it does not order anyone to do or refrain from doing anything.
Stewart claimed the document does not alter anyone's legal rights and obligations. He emphasized the lack of binding force in the determination.
Justice Roberts questioned the finality of the Corps' determination. He noted the document describes nonspecial cases in specific sections.
Justice Alito asked about the reviewability of the determination under the EPA. He inquired about the distance between the issue and the core case.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 38-50 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 38-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 40-50 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 40-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- 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 46-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 4-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-14 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 50-6
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The Army Corps of Engineers issued a jurisdictional determination. This ruling identifies specific wetlands. Hawkes Company challenges the scope of this authority. The dispute centers on whether this document is final agency action.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 30, 2016.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
What each side wants
Hawkes wants the Court to declare the Corps determination final. This would allow Hawkes to challenge the ruling in court.
The Corps wants the Court to declare the determination non-final. This would prevent immediate judicial review of the wetland ruling.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
What each side says
Hawkes argues the determination is final agency action. The company claims the document alters legal rights and obligations.
The Corps argues the determination is not final. The agency claims it does not order anyone to act or refrain from acting.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if the determination is reviewable under the EPA. He questioned how far removed the issue is from the core case.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the determination is final regarding the Corps. He questioned whether the document applies only to special case determinations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 38-50 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 38-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 40-50 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 40-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 46-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 4-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-14 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 50-6
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of federal wetland regulation. It determines when private parties can challenge agency determinations. The outcome shapes the balance between federal authority and private property rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
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 38-50 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 38-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 40-50 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 40-50
- 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 46-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 4-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-14 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 50-6
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 38-44 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
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.