Galette v. New Jersey Transit Corporation
Consolidated with New Jersey Transit Corporation v. Colt (24-1113)
Holding
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is not an arm of the state of New Jersey and thus is not entitled to share in New Jersey’s interstate sovereign immunity.
Judgment
Reversed and remanded, 9-0, in an opinion by Sonia Sotomayor on Mar 4, 2026.
Mar 19, 2025Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due April 24, 2025)Apr 15, 2025Brief of respondent New Jersey Transit Corporation in support filed.Apr 21, 2025Reply of petitioner Cedric Galette filed. (Distributed)Apr 22, 2025Waiver of the 14-day waiting period for the distribution of the petition pursuant to Rule 15.5 filed by petitioner.
Apr 23, 2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 5/15/2025.
Apr 24, 2025Brief amici curiae of Texas, et al. filed. (Distributed)Apr 30, 2025Rescheduled.
Jun 9, 2025Supplemental brief of petitioner Cedric Galette filed. (Distributed)Jun 10, 2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/26/2025.
Jul 3, 2025Petition GRANTED and consolidated with No. 24-1113, limited to the following question: Whether the New Jersey Transit Corporation is an arm of the State of New Jersey for interstate sovereign immunity purposes. A total of one hour is allotted for oral argument.
Jul 3, 2025Because the Court has consolidated these cases for briefing and oral argument, future filings and activity in the cases will now be reflected on the docket of No. 24-1021. Subsequent filings in these cases must therefore be submitted through the electronic filing system in No. 24-1021. Each document submitted in connection with one or more of these cases must include on its cover the case number and caption for each case in which the filing is intended to be submitted. Where a filing is submitted in fewer than all of the cases, the docket entry will reflect the case number(s) in which the filing is submitted; a document filed in all of the consolidated cases will be noted as “VIDED.”
Jul 21, 2025Motion for an extension of time to file the briefs on the merits filed. VIDED.Jul 22, 2025Motion to extend the time to file the briefs on the merits granted. New Jersey Transit Corporation will serve as the petitioners in these cases, and the time to file the joint appendix and the opening brief on the merits is extended to and including September 3, 2025. The time to file the response briefs on the merits of Cedric Galette and Jeffrey Colt, et al. is extended to and including November 12, 2025. VIDED. (Corrected - August 8, 2025.)
Aug 26, 2025Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by New Jersey Transit Corporation, et al. VIDED.Sep 3, 2025Opening brief on the merits of New Jersey Transit Corporation, et al. filed. VIDED.Sep 10, 2025Brief amicus curiae of National Governors Association filed. VIDED.Sep 10, 2025Brief amici curiae of State of Missouri, et al. filed. VIDED.Sep 10, 2025Brief amici curiae of Texas, et al. filed. VIDED.Sep 10, 2025Brief amicus curiae of Commuter Rail Coalition filed. VIDED.Sep 11, 2025Application for a stay (25A287), submitted to Justice Sotomayor. (As to 24-1113).Sep 12, 2025Order entered by Justice Sotomayor: Upon consideration of the application of counsel for the applicants, it is ordered that the trial in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, Index No. 158309/2017, is hereby stayed pending further order of Justice Sotomayor or of the Court. (As to 24-1113).
Sep 30, 2025Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by respondents GRANTED. VIDED.
Nov 12, 2025SET FOR ARGUMENT on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. VIDED.
Nov 12, 2025Response brief of Cedric Galette filed. VIDED.Nov 12, 2025Response brief of Jeffrey Colt, et al. filed. (as to 24-1113)Nov 17, 2025Record requested from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Eastern District.
Nov 17, 2025Amicus brief of Cedric Galette not accepted for filing. (November 18, 2025) (to be corrected with proper amicus party and attachments)
Nov 17, 2025Brief amicus curiae of New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers filed. VIDED.Nov 19, 2025Brief amicus curiae of American Association for Justice filed. VIDED.Nov 19, 2025Brief amicus curiae of Constitutional Accountability Center filed. VIDED.Nov 19, 2025Brief amici curiae of Federal Courts Scholars filed. VIDED.Nov 19, 2025Brief amicus curiae of Public Citizen filed. VIDED.Nov 19, 2025Brief amici curiae of Professor William Baude, et al. filed. VIDED.Dec 1, 2025CIRCULATED
Dec 12, 2025Reply of respondent New Jersey Transit Corporation filed. VIDED. (Distributed)Dec 17, 2025Record received from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Eastern District and available with the Clerk (one envelope).
Jan 14, 2026Argued. For New Jersey Transit Corporation, et al.: Michael Zuckerman, Deputy Solicitor General, Trenton, N. J. For Galette and Colt, et al.: Michael B. Kimberly, Washington, D. C. VIDED.
Mar 4, 2026Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Judgment in No. 24-1113 AFFIRMED and case REMANDED. Sotomayor, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court. VIDED.
Apr 6, 2026Judgment and Mandate Issued.Recommended Citation: Galette v. New Jersey Transit Corporation, SCOTUSblog, https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/galette-v-new-jersey-transit-corporation/