October Term 2022 · Docket 156 ORIG.
Can New Jersey withdraw from the Waterfront Commission Compact?
New York claims the 1953 compact bans unilateral exit. New Jersey argues silence allows withdrawal.
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
Ms. Vale argued the 1953 compact intended to prohibit unilateral termination.
She cited historical compacting practices and specific circumstances to support this view.
Mr. Feigenbaum argued the compact text does not expressly limit New Jersey's withdrawal.
He noted that most compacts deal with boundaries or water rights, not this issue.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 47-45 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 47-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 27-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 27-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 27-13 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 27-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 47-45 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 47-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 15-21
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
New York seeks to block New Jersey from leaving the Waterfront Commission. New Jersey wants to reclaim its police powers. The dispute centers on the compact's silence regarding termination.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 47-45 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 47-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 47-45 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 47-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 15-21
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 1, 2023.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-13
What each side wants
New York wants the Court to block New Jersey's withdrawal.
New Jersey wants the Court to allow its withdrawal.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 47-45 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 47-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 47-45 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 47-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 15-21
What each side says
New York argues historical practice implies a ban on unilateral termination.
New Jersey argues the compact text does not expressly limit withdrawal.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 47-45 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 47-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 47-45 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 47-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 15-21
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the parties consciously omitted a termination clause.
Justice Thomas asked if silence permanently sacrifices state sovereignty.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 27-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 27-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 27-13 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 27-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-39
Why it matters
This case defines how states exit interstate agreements. It determines whether silence in a compact implies a permanent lock. The outcome shapes future state cooperation and sovereignty limits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 47-45 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 47-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 47-45 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 47-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 15-21
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 43-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 27-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 27-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 27-13 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 27-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-39
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 4, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 47-45 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 47-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 47-45 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 47-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 47-45 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 47-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 47-45 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 47-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 15-21
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.