October Term 2021 · Docket 143 ORIG.
Does groundwater crossing state lines belong to the state it passes through?
Mississippi claims Tennessee pumps water that belongs to Mississippi. Tennessee argues the water is shared and lawfully used.
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. Coghlan argued equitable apportionment is the wrong remedy for Mississippi.
Mr. Frederick stated Tennessee has lawfully pumped groundwater for over 130 years.
Mr. Liu argued no jurisdiction allocates groundwater based on transit through territory.
Justice Thomas asked if Tennessee could make the same argument against Mississippi.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 25-11 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 25-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 35-53 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 35-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 41-27 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 41-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-41
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Mississippi seeks a court order to stop Tennessee from pumping groundwater. Tennessee wants the case dismissed and its pumping protected.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 25-11 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 25-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 41-27 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 41-27
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 4, 2021.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-49
What each side wants
Mississippi wants a court order to stop Tennessee from pumping groundwater.
Tennessee wants the case dismissed and its pumping protected.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 25-11 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 25-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 41-27 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 41-27
What each side says
Mississippi argues groundwater belongs to the state it passes through.
Tennessee argues the aquifer is shared and pumping is lawful.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 25-11 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 25-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 41-27 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 41-27
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked if Mississippi wins even if the water is interstate.
Chief Justice Roberts asked what other cases involve equitable apportionment besides water.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 35-53 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 35-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-41
Why it matters
The outcome defines how states share underground water resources. It determines whether one state can claim ownership based on transit. It affects future disputes over shared aquifers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 25-11 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 25-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 41-27 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 41-27
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 47-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 35-53 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 35-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-41
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 36, lines 25-11 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 25-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 41-27 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 41-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 25-11 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 25-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 41-27 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 41-27
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.