Cedric Galette, Petitioner v. New Jersey Transit Corporation

The Supreme Court said New Jersey Transit is not part of the State of New Jersey itself for interstate sovereign immunity purposes. That means the agency cannot claim the state's immunity when it is sued across state lines.

The Court ruled 9-0, with Justice Sotomayor writing for the 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 and businesses suing NJ Transit in another state's courts now have a clearer path to get their cases heard on the merits. The decision also limits when state-created agencies can avoid lawsuits by invoking state immunity.

Lower courts must apply this rule when NJ Transit or similar agencies raise interstate sovereign immunity as a defense. Litigants, agencies, and state lawyers will now have to focus more on the merits of those cases instead of immunity alone.

The justices had to decide whether NJ Transit counts as an arm of New Jersey itself. If it did, it could claim interstate sovereign immunity.

People and businesses bringing claims against NJ Transit in another state's courts are directly affected. They now face one less immunity barrier at the start of a case.

Lower courts must use the Supreme Court's rule in this and similar cases. Agencies and lawyers will adjust their litigation strategy because this immunity defense is narrower.