October Term 2016 · Docket 16-254
Does the Hague Service Convention allow mail service if the destination state does not object?
The parties dispute whether Article 10(a) permits serving legal papers by mail when the receiving country has not filed an objection.
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
the side that brought the case asserts Article 10(a) allows postal service if the forum state authorizes it.
the side that brought the case claims the receiving state must not have objected to the provision.
the opposing side contends the treaty text is unambiguous and restricts this service method.
Justice Alito noted treaties are also United States law requiring standard interpretation rules.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 18-24 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 18-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-8 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 8-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 8-40 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 8-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 24-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 48-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 48-1
- 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 38-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 48-20 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 48-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-22 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 4-22
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of the Hague Service Convention. It asks if domestic law controls mail service when the treaty is silent on objections.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 8-40 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 8-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 24-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-46
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 22, 2017.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to allow mail service under the treaty.
the opposing side wants the Court to bar mail service in this instance.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 8-40 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 8-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 24-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-46
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the treaty text permits mail service if the destination state does not object.
the opposing side argues the treaty text is unambiguous and does not authorize this specific service method.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 8-40 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 8-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 24-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-46
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked where a person may raise a defense regarding lack of notice.
Justice Sotomayor asked why drafters used two different phrases in the treaty text.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 18-24 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 18-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-8 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 8-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 48-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 48-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 48-20 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 48-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-22 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 4-22
Why it matters
This dispute determines how courts serve legal documents abroad. It affects the speed and cost of international litigation. It clarifies the balance between treaty text and domestic law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 8-40 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 8-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 24-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-46
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 18-24 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 18-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-8 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 8-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 48-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 48-1
- 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 38-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 48-20 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 48-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-22 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 4-22
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 13, lines 8-40 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 8-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 24-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 8-40 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 8-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 24-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-46
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.