October Term 2022 · Docket 22-96
Can Puerto Rico sue its federal oversight board in federal court?
Puerto Rico claims sovereign immunity bars federal lawsuits against its oversight board. The board argues Congress waived that immunity.
Verified source milestones
- — 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. Harris argued Congress did not need a clear statement to waive immunity.
Ms. Brown argued Puerto Rico has long enjoyed immunity from federal suits.
Justices questioned whether Puerto Rico's status matches that of states or tribes.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 27-13 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 27-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-1
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on whether Puerto Rico's sovereign immunity blocks federal court suits against its financial oversight board. The board claims Congress waived this protection. Puerto Rico argues its status as a territory preserves immunity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 27-13 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 27-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-47
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 11, 2023.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
What each side wants
The board wants the Court to allow federal lawsuits against it.
Puerto Rico wants the Court to block federal lawsuits against it.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 27-13 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 27-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-47
What each side says
The board argues Congress waived Puerto Rico's immunity for this specific entity.
Puerto Rico argues its territorial status preserves sovereign immunity against federal suits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 27-13 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 27-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-47
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked how Puerto Rico's status differs from a state's.
Justice Sotomayor asked about the historical sovereignty of territories like Louisiana.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-1
Why it matters
This case defines the legal shield protecting Puerto Rico's government from federal litigation. It determines whether the territory can be sued in federal court for board actions. The outcome shapes the balance of power between federal oversight and local governance.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 27-13 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 27-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-47
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 49-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-1
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 21, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 27-13 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 27-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 27-13 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 27-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-47
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.