October Term 2024 · Docket 23-867
Does the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act allow plaintiffs to seize Hungarian funds mixed with other assets?
Plaintiffs seek to recover Holocaust-era property from Hungary. Hungary claims sovereign immunity blocks the suit.
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. Glasgow argued Hungary and its railway are immune from suit. He stated the expropriation exception requires property to be exchanged for the stolen assets.
Mr. Dvoretzky argued Hungary lacks immunity for stealing property during the Holocaust. He stated the exception applies when a state possesses the expropriated property or property exchanged for it.
Mr. Joshi argued the commingling theory lacks support in the statute text. He noted words like that property and such property imply specific, identifiable assets.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 35-1
- 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 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-51 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 41-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 41-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 39-15 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 39-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 23-33
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of the expropriation exception to sovereign immunity. The core dispute involves whether specific property requirements apply when funds are commingled.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 23-33
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 3, 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 67, lines 25-51 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-51
What each side wants
Hungary wants the Court to dismiss the case. It argues the law requires specific, identifiable property for the exception to apply.
Simon wants the Court to allow the suit to continue. It argues the exception covers property exchanged for the stolen assets.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 23-33
What each side says
Hungary argues the statute text demands specific, identifiable property. It contends commingled funds do not meet this legal standard.
Simon argues the exception applies to property exchanged for the stolen assets. It contends the commercial nexus requirement is satisfied.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 23-33
What the justices asked
Justice Barrett asked how Hungary bears the burden of persuasion if sovereign immunity is jurisdictional.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the argument holds when an account holds mostly appropriated funds and some other funds.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-51 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 41-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 41-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 39-15 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 39-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-29
Why it matters
This case defines the reach of sovereign immunity for foreign states. It determines whether plaintiffs can access mixed financial accounts in U.S. courts. The outcome shapes future claims involving state-owned entities and historical property disputes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 23-33
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 27-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 13, 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 19-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-51 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 41-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 41-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 39-15 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 39-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-29
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 28, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 23-33
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.