October Term 2020 · Docket 142 ORIG.
Did Georgia's water use harm Florida's oyster beds?
Florida claims Georgia's water withdrawals killed its oysters. Georgia says overfishing caused the decline.
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
Florida's counsel argues Georgia controls water timing.
Georgia's counsel argues Florida failed to prove causation.
Justices questioned the reliability of conflicting expert data.
Justices asked for the best evidence of oyster death causes.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-55 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 43-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 43-35 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 43-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 11-53 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 11-53
- 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 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-31
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Florida seeks a court order to stop Georgia from taking water. Georgia wants the case dismissed. The dispute centers on the cause of oyster die-offs.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 11-53 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 11-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 47-29
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 22, 2021.
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 67, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-33
What each side wants
Florida wants a legal remedy for its oyster losses.
Georgia wants the petition denied and the case closed.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 11-53 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 11-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 47-29
What each side says
Florida argues Georgia's water use caused the oyster decline.
Georgia argues Florida failed to prove its case with clear evidence.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 11-53 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 11-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 47-29
What the justices asked
How should the Court resolve conflicting expert reports?
What evidence best explains the dead oysters?
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-55 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 43-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 43-35 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 43-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-31
Why it matters
This case defines how states prove cross-border water harm. It sets the standard for scientific evidence in interstate disputes. The outcome shapes future water rights conflicts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 11-53 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 11-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 47-29
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 41-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-55 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 43-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 43-35 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 43-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-31
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 37, lines 11-53 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 11-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 11-53 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 11-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 47-29
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.