October Term 2018 · Docket 16-1094
Does the Vienna Convention allow serving foreign states by mail?
Sudan argues the treaty bans mail service. Victims claim the treaty allows it.
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
Sudan's lawyer argued the treaty bans mail service.
Victims' lawyer argued the treaty allows mail service.
justice_question
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 34-50 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 34-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 30-30 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 30-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 16-32 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 16-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 28-24 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 28-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 22-18 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 22-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 12-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 54-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 54-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 16-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 54-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 54-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 56-16 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 56-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 18-10 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 18-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 12-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 46-50 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 46-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 24-32 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 24-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 32-54 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 32-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 54-8 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 54-8
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests if the Vienna Convention permits serving a foreign state by mail. Sudan says the treaty bans this method. Victims say the treaty allows it. The Court must interpret the treaty text.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 28-24 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 28-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 22-18 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 22-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 18-10 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 18-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 40-48
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 7, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 12-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 12-22
What each side wants
Sudan wants to reverse the $300 million judgment.
Victims want to keep the $300 million judgment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 28-24 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 28-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 22-18 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 22-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 18-10 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 18-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 40-48
What each side says
Sudan argues the Vienna Convention bans service by mail.
Victims argue the Vienna Convention allows service by mail.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 28-24 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 28-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 22-18 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 22-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 18-10 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 18-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 40-48
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked if the statute requires delivery to an office.
Justice Sotomayor asked about ministers not sitting in capitals.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 34-50 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 34-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 30-30 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 30-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 16-32 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 16-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 54-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 54-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 16-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 54-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 54-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 56-16 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 56-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 12-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 46-50 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 46-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 24-32 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 24-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 32-54 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 32-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 54-8 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 54-8
Why it matters
This case defines how nations receive legal papers. It affects international litigation costs. It shapes diplomatic relations between states.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 28-24 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 28-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 22-18 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 22-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 18-10 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 18-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 40-48
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 14-24 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 34-50 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 34-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 30-30 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 30-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 16-32 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 16-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 12-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 54-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 54-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 16-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 54-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 54-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 56-16 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 56-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 12-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 46-50 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 46-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 24-32 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 24-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 32-54 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 32-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 54-8 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 54-8
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 23, lines 28-24 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 28-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 22-18 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 22-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 18-10 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 18-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 28-24 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 28-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 22-18 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 22-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 18-10 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 18-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 40-48
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.