October Term 2020 · Docket 19-351
Does the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act cover Holocaust-era property takings?
The dispute centers on whether U.S. courts can hear claims for property seized during the Holocaust.
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
Germany's counsel argued the statute targets Communist states and denies compensation.
The plaintiffs' counsel argued the statute covers property rights taken in violation of international law.
The Solicitor General argued the U.S. encourages other countries to provide justice mechanisms.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-55 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 21-29
- 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 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 55-49 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 55-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-55 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-49
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. It asks if the statute covers property rights taken in violation of international law during the Nazi era.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 55-49 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 55-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 49-53
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 7, 2020.
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 66, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 19-29
What each side wants
Germany wants the Court to dismiss the case and uphold its immunity.
The plaintiffs want the Court to allow their property claims to proceed in U.S. courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 55-49 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 55-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 49-53
What each side says
Germany argues the statute targets Communist states and does not cover Holocaust-era takings.
The plaintiffs argue the statute covers property rights taken in violation of international law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 55-49 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 55-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 49-53
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if stripping citizenship before the taking changes the legal analysis.
Justice Breyer asked how a similar plaintiff recovered in a prior case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-55 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-55 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-49
Why it matters
This case defines the reach of U.S. jurisdiction over foreign sovereigns. It determines whether victims can seek redress for historical property losses in American courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 55-49 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 55-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 49-53
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 39-55 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-47
- 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 21-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-55 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-49
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 21-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 55-49 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 55-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 55-49 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 55-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 49-53
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.