October Term 2022 · Docket 21-1450
Does a general federal jurisdiction statute waive a foreign bank's criminal immunity?
A Turkish bank argues that a broad jurisdiction law does not waive its sovereign immunity in a criminal case.
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
Ms. Blatt argued that general laws do not reach foreign sovereigns in criminal cases.
Ms. Blatt stated that Congress has not authorized courts to convict foreign nations.
Mr. Feigin argued that the statute recognizes potential implications for other cases.
Mr. Feigin contended that the law ensures proper handling of these situations.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 31-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 55-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 41-43
- 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 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-33 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-15 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-25
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on whether a general federal statute grants courts power to prosecute a foreign sovereign. The bank claims the law lacks a clear statement of intent to waive immunity. The government argues the statute provides sufficient authority for criminal prosecution.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-53
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 17, 2023.
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 68, lines 55-33 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-33
What each side wants
The bank wants the Court to reverse the lower court and dismiss the criminal case.
The government wants the Court to affirm the lower court and allow the prosecution to continue.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-53
What each side says
The bank argues that general jurisdiction laws do not waive foreign sovereign immunity without a clear statement.
The government argues that the specific statute authorizes federal courts to exercise criminal jurisdiction over the bank.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-53
What the justices asked
Justice Kavanaugh asked if remanding the case to the Second Circuit is appropriate.
Justice Thomas asked if sovereign immunity is a personal defense rather than a jurisdictional bar.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 31-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 55-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-33 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-15 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-25
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of federal criminal power over foreign entities. It determines whether general statutes can override sovereign immunity. The outcome shapes how nations interact with U.S. courts in criminal matters.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-53
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 11, lines 31-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 31-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 55-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 41-43
- 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 33-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-33 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-15 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-25
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 102, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-53
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.