October Term 2018 · Docket 17-1011
Does the 1945 statute grant international organizations absolute immunity from suit?
the sides that brought the case seek to sue the International Finance Corporation. the opposing sides claim statutory immunity blocks the claim.
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. Fisher argued the IOIA grants immunity equal to foreign governments.
Mr. Verrilli argued the IOIA prescribes a fixed standard of absolute immunity.
Mr. Ellis discussed the text of Section 288a.
Justice Breyer questioned the consistency of statutory changes with original purpose.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 20-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 32-13 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 32-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 21-32 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 21-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 14-32 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 14-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 32-10 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 32-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 30-1 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 30-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 32-26 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 32-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-24 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 13-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 31-28 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 31-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-30 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-30
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of immunity for international organizations under the International Organizations Immunities Act.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 32-26 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 32-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-24 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 13-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 31-28 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 31-28
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 31, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-30 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-30
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to allow their lawsuit to proceed.
the opposing sides want the Court to uphold the lower court dismissal.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 32-26 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 32-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-24 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 13-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 31-28 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 31-28
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the statute grants only the same immunity as foreign governments.
the opposing sides argue the statute prescribes a fixed standard of virtual absolute immunity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 32-26 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 32-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-24 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 13-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 31-28 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 31-28
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if the President can decrease immunity.
Justice Breyer asked about the statutory purpose regarding organization location.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 20-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 32-13 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 32-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 21-32 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 21-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 14-32 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 14-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 32-10 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 32-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 30-1 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 30-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-30 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-30
Why it matters
This dispute determines whether private parties can sue international organizations in U.S. courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 32-26 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 32-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-24 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 13-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 31-28 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 31-28
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 23-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 20-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 32-13 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 32-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 21-32 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 21-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 14-32 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 14-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 32-10 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 32-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 30-1 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 30-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-30 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-30
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 21, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 32-26 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 32-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-24 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 13-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 31-28 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 31-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-13 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 32-26 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 32-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-24 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 13-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 31-28 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 31-28
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.