October Term 2022 · Docket 21-1164
Does the Quiet Title Act's 12-year limit bar federal courts from hearing property claims?
the sides that brought the case argue the time limit is not jurisdictional. The government claims it strips court power.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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. McCoy argued Congress must clearly state when a time bar is jurisdictional.
Mr. Snyder argued prior cases treated the time bar as a jurisdictional limit.
Justice Thomas asked if conditions to sovereign immunity waivers are jurisdictional.
Justice Jackson asked why a definitive interpretation matters for the case.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-51 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-37 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 27-39
- 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 23-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-53 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 23-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 23-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-35
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether a 12-year limit in the Quiet Title Act removes federal court power. the sides that brought the case want to keep their property claim alive. The government wants the claim dismissed as too late.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-51
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 30, 2022.
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 23-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 23-53
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the court to hear their property claim.
The government wants the court to dismiss the claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-51
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue Congress did not clearly make the time limit jurisdictional.
The government argues the time limit restricts court power.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-51
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if the Court once tied sovereign immunity to jurisdiction.
Justice Sotomayor asked if a judge tries Quiet Title actions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-51 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-37 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-53 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 23-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 23-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-35
Why it matters
This dispute defines when federal courts lose power over property claims. It shapes how long citizens can challenge government land ownership. It clarifies the scope of sovereign immunity waivers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-51
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 11, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-51 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-37 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-53 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 23-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 23-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-35
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-51
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.