October Term 2019 · Docket 17-1678
Can a family sue a federal officer for a cross-border shooting?
The case tests whether federal courts allow damages claims against officers for deaths on foreign soil.
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
Stephen Vladeck argued the family should have a Bivens remedy for the shooting.
He noted the government previously conceded a remedy would exist on U.S. soil.
Michael Wall argued the family seeks to create a new cause of action.
He stated Congress has declined to provide a remedy in this context.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 55-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 25-55 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 25-55
- 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 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 5-64 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 5-64
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 65-65 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 65-65
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-39
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Sergio Hernandez died on Mexican soil after a U.S. Border Patrol officer shot him. His family seeks damages. The officer argues no legal remedy exists for cross-border incidents.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 25-55 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 25-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 5-64 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 5-64
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 65-65 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 65-65
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 12, 2019.
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 69, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-3
What each side wants
The family wants a federal damages remedy for the officer's actions.
The officer wants the court to deny any federal damages claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 25-55 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 25-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 5-64 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 5-64
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 65-65 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 65-65
What each side says
The family argues the Fourth Amendment implies a damages remedy for this violation.
The officer argues Congress has not authorized such a remedy in this context.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 25-55 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 25-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 5-64 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 5-64
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 65-65 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 65-65
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if a state officer would face a federal claim in the same scenario.
Justice Gorsuch asked what principle limits claims for foreign nationals injured abroad.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 55-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-39
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of federal damages remedies for cross-border law enforcement actions. It determines whether families can seek compensation for deaths on foreign soil. The outcome shapes the balance between individual rights and national security operations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 25-55 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 25-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 5-64 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 5-64
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 65-65 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 65-65
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 55-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 55-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-39
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 34, lines 25-55 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 25-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 5-64 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 5-64
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 65-65 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 65-65
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 25-55 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 25-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 5-64 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 5-64
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 65-65 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 65-65
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.