October Term 2018 · Docket 17-1299
Can states sue other states in federal court?
California seeks to sue Hyatt in federal court. Hyatt argues state courts must handle such disputes.
Verified source milestones
- — 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
California argues Nevada v. Hall allows federal court suits.
Hyatt argues the Constitution bars suits in other states' courts.
Justice Sotomayor questioned the reliance on legislative history.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 32-32 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 32-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-32 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 21-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-6 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 7-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 34-31 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 34-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 36-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 18-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 18-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-32 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-32
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
California wants to sue Hyatt in federal court. Hyatt wants the case to stay in state court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 34-31 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 34-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-34
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 9, 2019.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-15
What each side wants
California wants to sue Hyatt in federal court.
Hyatt wants the case to stay in state court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 34-31 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 34-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-34
What each side says
California argues states can sue other states in federal court.
Hyatt argues states cannot be sued in other states' courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 34-31 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 34-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-34
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked what is new in the argument.
Justice Sotomayor asked about the constitutional design of state power.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 32-32 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 32-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-32 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 21-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-6 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 7-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 36-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 18-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 18-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-32 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-32
Why it matters
This case defines where states can sue other states. It affects how states protect their citizens from other states.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 34-31 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 34-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-34
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 32-32 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 32-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-32 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 21-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-6 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 7-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 36-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 18-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 18-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-32 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-32
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 28, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 34-31 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 34-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 34-31 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 34-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-34
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.