October Term 2017 · Docket 17-269
Does a federal treaty require Washington to fix all fish-blocking culverts immediately?
Washington argues the Ninth Circuit order forces immediate, costly repairs. The United States says the treaty demands effective salmon access now.
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
Noah Purcell argued Washington voluntarily spent billions to protect salmon.
Purcell claimed the Ninth Circuit announced an unworkable treaty right.
Purcell urged the Court to review specific joint appendix paragraphs.
Jay Kedem argued the treaty promised federal protection for fishing rights.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 49-27 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 49-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-19 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on the scope of a federal treaty right to fish. Washington claims the lower court order is unworkable. The United States asserts the treaty guarantees meaningful access to salmon.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 49-27 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 49-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-19 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 11-13
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 18, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 39-45
What each side wants
Washington wants the court to reject the immediate repair mandate.
The United States wants the court to uphold the requirement for effective fish access.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 49-27 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 49-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-19 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 11-13
What each side says
Washington argues the treaty right is unworkable and demands voluntary spending.
The United States argues the treaty promises more than hollow access to fisheries.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 49-27 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 49-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-19 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 11-13
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the standard meant at least a certain level.
Justice Sotomayor questioned whether the decline was large or material.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-7
Why it matters
This case defines the financial burden on states to protect treaty rights. It determines how quickly infrastructure must change to support fish populations. The outcome shapes federal-state relations over natural resources.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 49-27 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 49-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-19 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 11-13
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 33-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-7
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 35, lines 49-27 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 49-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-19 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 49-27 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 49-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 29-19 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 29-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 11-13
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.