October Term 2024 · Docket 23-824
Does the bankruptcy code waive state sovereign immunity for trustee avoidance claims?
The dispute centers on whether federal bankruptcy law overrides state immunity for specific trustee actions.
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. Dubin argued the trustee relies on a different code provision because the primary claim is time-barred.
Ms. Blatt argued the waiver language directly relates to the avoidance powers in the code.
Ms. Dubin asserted the trustee has an array of avoidance powers under the Bankruptcy Code.
Justice Gorsuch noted the language supporting the side that brought the case's view is not present in the specific statute.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 41-33 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 41-33
- 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 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-9 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 27-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of a federal waiver of state sovereign immunity in bankruptcy proceedings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 41-33 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 41-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-9 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 27-9
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 2, 2024.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the court to allow the trustee to use state law claims despite state immunity.
the opposing side wants the court to block the trustee from using state law claims against the state.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 41-33 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 41-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-9 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 27-9
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the federal waiver covers all related avoidance powers, including state law claims.
the opposing side argues the waiver only covers specific federal powers and does not reach state law claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 41-33 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 41-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-9 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 27-9
What the justices asked
Justice Barrett asked if the side that brought the case's reading raises a constitutional question about state immunity.
Justice Gorsuch asked if the trustee steps into the shoes of a normal creditor under the statute.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-7
Why it matters
The outcome defines the boundary between federal bankruptcy authority and state sovereign immunity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 41-33 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 41-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-9 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 27-9
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 23-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 15-17
- 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 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-7
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 35, lines 41-33 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 41-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-9 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 27-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 41-33 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 41-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-9 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 27-9
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.