Galette v. New Jersey Transit

The Court decided that New Jersey Transit Corporation is not an arm of New Jersey and cannot share the state's interstate sovereign immunity. The case concerned whether the transit agency could avoid being sued outside New Jersey on that basis.

Justice Sotomayor wrote the 9–0 opinion, joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Kagan, Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barrett, and Jackson.

Justice Sotomayor wrote for a unanimous 9-0 Court.

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.””

People bringing claims against NJ Transit in another state cannot be turned away solely because the agency claims New Jersey's interstate sovereign immunity. Lower courts must treat NJ Transit as legally independent for this question.

Lower courts must apply the Court's decision in cases involving NJ Transit's claim to interstate sovereign immunity. NJ Transit and people suing it will proceed under that rule in future litigation.

The Court ruled that NJ Transit is not an arm of New Jersey. It therefore cannot share the state's interstate sovereign immunity.

People suing NJ Transit outside New Jersey are affected, as is the transit agency. Courts cannot dismiss solely because NJ Transit claims New Jersey's interstate sovereign immunity.

Lower courts must treat NJ Transit as legally independent when it invokes interstate sovereign immunity. Other legal defenses may still be considered.