October Term 2017 · Docket 141 ORIG.
Can the United States sue to enforce water rights under the Rio Grande Compact?
The United States seeks to enforce water delivery duties. Texas and New Mexico dispute this legal authority.
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
The United States argues the compact creates a statutory duty to distribute water to Texas.
Texas and New Mexico argue the United States cannot raise compact claims in this matter.
Justice Sotomayor asked what specific federal interests the compact protects.
Justice Ginsburg asked how to distinguish when a party can sue under a compact.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 35-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 35-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 15-53 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 15-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 21-7 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 21-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 43-35 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 43-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-45
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The United States argues the Rio Grande Compact creates a statutory duty to deliver water to Texas. Texas and New Mexico argue the federal government lacks standing to raise these claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 15-53 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 15-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 21-7 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 21-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 43-35 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 43-35
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 8, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-39
What each side wants
The United States wants the Court to allow it to enforce water delivery duties under the compact.
Texas and New Mexico want the Court to bar the United States from raising compact claims in this case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 15-53 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 15-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 21-7 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 21-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 43-35 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 43-35
What each side says
The United States argues the compact creates a statutory duty to distribute water to Texas.
Texas and New Mexico argue the United States cannot raise compact claims in this matter.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 15-53 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 15-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 21-7 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 21-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 43-35 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 43-35
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked what specific federal interests the compact protects.
Justice Ginsburg asked how to distinguish when a party can sue under a compact.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 35-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 35-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-45
Why it matters
This case defines the federal government's role in interstate water disputes. It clarifies whether the United States can sue to enforce compact duties. The outcome shapes future water rights litigation between states and the federal government.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 15-53 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 15-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 21-7 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 21-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 43-35 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 43-35
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 13-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 35-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 35-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-45
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 22, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 15-53 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 15-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 21-7 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 21-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 43-35 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 43-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 15-53 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 15-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 21-7 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 21-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 43-35 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 43-35
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.