October Term 2023 · Docket 22-913
Does the Fifth Amendment create a direct federal right to sue for property takings?
the sides that brought the case seek a federal damages remedy. Texas argues state law provides the only path.
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
the sides that brought the case claim the Fifth Amendment imposes an explicit duty to pay money.
Texas asserts its constitution is more protective than the federal one.
Justice Gorsuch noted the Fifth Amendment may not create an independent cause of action.
Justice Barrett questioned how the ratifiers viewed the Fifth Amendment as supplying a cause of action.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 19-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-33 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-33
- 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 23-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 11-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 49-31
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether the Fifth Amendment grants a direct federal right to sue for property takings. the sides that brought the case argue the text creates this duty. Texas claims state law handles these claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-33 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 49-31
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 16, 2024.
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 78, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 37-49
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want a direct federal damages remedy.
Texas wants to limit claims to state law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-33 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 49-31
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the Fifth Amendment text creates a federal duty to pay.
Texas argues state common law provides the necessary remedy.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-33 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 49-31
What the justices asked
Justice Gorsuch asked if the Fifth Amendment creates an independent cause of action.
Justice Thomas questioned the consistency of relying on extra-constitutional causes of action.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 19-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 11-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 19-21
Why it matters
The outcome defines the scope of federal property rights. It determines whether citizens can sue directly under the Constitution. This shapes the balance between federal and state power.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-33 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 49-31
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 35-51 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 19-53
- 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 17-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 11-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 19-21
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 39, lines 39-33 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 49-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-33 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 49-31
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.