October Term 2016 · Docket 15-423
Does the FSIA require a strict jurisdictional test for sovereign immunity?
Venezuela argues the FSIA demands a strict jurisdictional test. Helmerich & Payne argues a loose pleading standard applies.
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
Venezuela's counsel argued the FSIA is sui generis and distinct from general jurisdiction.
Helmerich & Payne's counsel argued the test turns on what is in issue in the suit.
Justice Alito compared sovereign immunity to qualified immunity for government officials.
Justice Kennedy noted courts might find immunity after initial jurisdictional findings.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 22-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 22-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 14-10 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 14-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-4 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 36-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-40 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 22-38 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 22-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 50-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-6 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 42-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 24-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-20 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-44
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case concerns the legal standard for dismissing sovereign immunity claims under the FSIA.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 22-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 22-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 14-10 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 14-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 22-38 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 22-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 50-6
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 2, 2016.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 10-12
What each side wants
Venezuela wants the Court to apply a strict jurisdictional test.
Helmerich & Payne wants the Court to apply a loose pleading standard.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 22-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 22-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 14-10 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 14-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 22-38 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 22-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 50-6
What each side says
Venezuela argues the FSIA is unique and requires strict jurisdictional review.
Helmerich & Payne argues the standard mirrors general federal pleading rules.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 22-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 22-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 14-10 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 14-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 22-38 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 22-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 50-6
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if the standard differs from a motion to dismiss.
Justice Kagan asked what remains in issue after a property right is found.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-4 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 36-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-40 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-6 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 42-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 24-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-20 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-44
Why it matters
The standard determines how easily sovereigns face litigation in U.S. courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 22-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 22-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 14-10 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 14-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 22-38 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 22-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 50-6
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 8-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-4 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 36-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-40 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-6 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 42-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 24-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-20 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-44
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 20, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 22-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 22-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 14-10 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 14-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 22-38 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 22-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 50-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 22-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 22-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 14-10 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 14-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 22-38 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 22-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 50-6
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.