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Mississippi v. Tennessee

Docket No. Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
22O143 Oct 4, 2021 Nov 22, 2021 9-0 Roberts OT 2021

Holding: The waters of the Middle Claiborne Aquifer are subject to the judicial remedy of equitable apportionment; Mississippi’s complaint is dismissed without leave to amend.

Judgment: Dismissed, 9-0, in an opinion by Chief Justice Roberts on November 22, 2021.

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
Jun 01 2014Documents filed with the Special Master may be found on the Special Master's website at http://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/internet/special_master/special.htm
Jun 06 2014Motion for leave to file a bill of complaint filed.
Jul 17 2014Order extending time to file response to motion for leave to file a bill of complaint to and including September 5, 2014, for all respondents.
Sep 05 2014Brief of respondent City of Memphis, Tennessee, and Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division in opposition filed.
Sep 05 2014Brief of respondent Tennessee in opposition filed.
Sep 24 2014DISTRIBUTED for Conference of October 10, 2014.
Sep 24 2014Reply of petitioner Mississippi, Plaintiff filed. (Distributed)
Oct 01 2014DISTRIBUTED for Conference of October 17, 2014.
Oct 20 2014The Solicitor General is invited to file a brief in this case expressing the views of the United States.
May 12 2015Brief amicus curiae of United States filed.
May 22 2015Supplemental brief of Mississippi, Plaintiff filed.
Jun 09 2015DISTRIBUTED for Conference of June 25, 2015.
Jun 29 2015Motion for leave to file a bill of complaint GRANTED. Defendants are allowed 30 days within which to file an answer.
Jul 20 2015The time to file an answer has been extended for all defendants to and including September 14, 2015.
Sep 11 2015Answer of Defendants The City of Memphis, Tennessee, and Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division filed.
Sep 14 2015Answer of Defendant State of Tennessee filed.
Sep 16 2015DISTRIBUTED for Conference of October 9, 2015.
Nov 10 2015It is ordered that the Honorable Eugene E. Siler, Jr., of London, Kentucky, is appointed Special Master in this case with authority to fix the time and conditions for the filing of additional pleadings, to direct subsequent proceedings, to summon witnesses, to issue subpoenas, and to take such evidence as may be introduced and such as he may deem it necessary to call for. The Special Master is directed to submit Reports as he may deem appropriate. The cost of printing his Reports, and all other proper expenses, including travel expenses shall be submitted to the Court.
Nov 18 2015Oath of Special Master filed
Nov 05 2020Report of the Special Master received.
Dec 07 2020The Report of the Special Master is received and ordered filed. Exceptions to the Report, with supporting briefs, may be filed within 45 days. Replies, if any, with supporting briefs, may be filed within 30 days. Sur-replies, if any, with supporting briefs, may be filed within 30 days.
Jan 13 2021Motion for an extension of time to file exceptions to the report of the Special Master filed by defendant State of Tennessee.
Jan 19 2021Tennessee's January 13, 2021 motion for an extension of time has been granted as follows: Exceptions to the report of the Special Master are due on or before February 22, 2021; Replies are due on or before April 23, 2021; Sur-replies are due on or before June 7, 2021.
Feb 22 2021Exceptions to Report of the Special Master filed by plaintiff Mississippi.
Feb 22 2021Exceptions to Report of the Special Master filed by defendants Tennessee, et al.
Mar 01 2021Brief amicus curiae of International Law Committee of the New York City Bar Assocation filed.
Apr 23 2021Reply of Mississippi to defendants' exceptions to the report of the Special Master filed.
Apr 23 2021Reply of Tennessee to Mississippi's exceptions to the report of the Special Master filed.
Apr 23 2021Reply of the City of Memphis and Memphis Light, Water and Gas Division to Mississippi's exceptions to the report of the Special Master filed.
Apr 29 2021Brief amici curiae of Colorado, et al. filed.
Apr 30 2021Brief amicus curiae of the United States filed.
Apr 30 2021Brief amicus curiae of Law Professors Noah D. Hall et al. filed.
Jun 07 2021Sur-reply in support of exceptions to Report of the Special Master filed by defendants Tennessee, et al.
Jun 07 2021Sur-reply in support of exceptions to Report of the Special Master filed by plaintiff Mississippi.
Jun 08 2021DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/24/2021.
Jul 01 2021DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 7/1/2021.
Jul 02 2021The Exceptions to the Special Master Report are set for oral argument in due course.
Jul 09 2021Motion of the Acting Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
Aug 03 2021CIRCULATED
Aug 23 2021Motion of the Acting Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED, and the time allotted as follows: 30 minutes for plaintiff, 20 minutes for defendants, and 15 minutes for the Acting Solicitor General.
Oct 04 2021Argued. For plaintiff: John V. Coghlan, Deputy Solicitor General, Jackson, Miss. For defendants: David C. Frederick, Washington, D. C.; and Frederick Liu, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United Sates, as amicus curiae.)
Nov 22 2021Exceptions to the Special Master Report overruled in part and sustained in part, and case dismissed. Roberts, C. J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court.