October Term 2017 · Docket 16-961
Does the Supreme Court have jurisdiction to review military court decisions?
the sides that brought the case seek Supreme Court review of military court rulings. The government argues the Court lacks jurisdiction.
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
Mr. Vladeck argued for a distinction between appointed and assigned officers.
Mr. Fletcher argued the Court has valid appellate jurisdiction under Section 1259.
Mr. Bamzai argued the Court lacks Article III jurisdiction over executive branch entities.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-51
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case involves the scope of Supreme Court jurisdiction over military tribunals.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 35-7
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 16, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 9-13
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Supreme Court to review the military court decisions.
The government wants the Supreme Court to dismiss the case for lack of jurisdiction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 35-7
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the Court has appellate jurisdiction under Section 1259.
The government argues the Court lacks Article III jurisdiction over executive branch entities.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 35-7
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked about the status of civilians on the CMCR.
Justice Sotomayor asked about the phrase except as otherwise authorized by law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-51
Why it matters
This dispute determines the scope of federal judicial review over military tribunals.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 35-7
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 33-51 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-51
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 32, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 35-7
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.