Cedric Galette, Petitioner v. New Jersey Transit Corporation

The Supreme Court said New Jersey Transit Corporation is not an arm of the State of New Jersey for interstate sovereign immunity purposes. That means NJ Transit cannot share the state's immunity from certain lawsuits brought in another state's courts.

The Court ruled 9-0, and Justice Sotomayor wrote the opinion saying NJ Transit is not an arm of New Jersey for interstate sovereign immunity purposes.

Majority

Sotomayor

Roberts

Kagan

Thomas

Alito

Gorsuch

Kavanaugh

Barrett

Jackson

“Sovereign immunity extends only to arms of the state itself, not to legally independent entities the state creates.”

This makes it easier for people and businesses to keep suing NJ Transit when interstate sovereign immunity is the main defense. For example, a rider injured in another state's court system may now face one less immunity barrier.

Lower courts must apply this rule and cannot treat NJ Transit as protected by New Jersey's interstate sovereign immunity. NJ Transit and parties suing it will now continue their cases under that framework.

The dispute was whether NJ Transit counts as an arm of New Jersey for interstate sovereign immunity. The Supreme Court said it does not.

People or businesses suing NJ Transit are directly affected. They may now be able to keep cases moving when NJ Transit raises interstate sovereign immunity.

Lower courts must follow the Supreme Court's rule in ongoing and future cases involving NJ Transit. NJ Transit must defend those cases without that immunity claim.