Oral Argument: CSX Galette versus New Jersey Transit | Sovereign Immunity Shell Game

CSX Galette v. NJ Transit Corp. | Argument Date: 1/14/26 | Docket Link: Here Consolidated with CSX NJ Transit Corp. v. Colt | Argument Date: 1/14/26 | Docket Link: Here

Oral Advocates:

1. For Petitioner (New Jersey Transit Corp.): Michael Zuckerman, Deputy Solicitor General, Trenton, New Jersey.
2. For Respondents (Galette and Colt): Michael Kimberly, Washington, D.C.

Question Presented: Whether the New Jersey Transit Corporation functions as an arm of the State of New Jersey for interstate sovereign immunity purposes

Overview: NJ Transit claims sovereign immunity after bus injured passenger in Philadelphia, raising fundamental federalism questions about state power to extend constitutional immunity to state-created corporations while disclaiming their debts and liabilities.

Posture: Pennsylvania Supreme Court reversed lower courts, holding NJ Transit qualifies as state arm based on statutory mission and structure.

Main Arguments:

• NJ Transit (Petitioner): (1) New Jersey's legislative designation of public transportation as "essential governmental function" deserves federal deference and establishes instrumentality status; (2) Governor's appointment, for-cause removal, and veto powers demonstrate sufficient state control; (3) Substantial state subsidies (15-40% of operating budget) create practical financial interdependence implicating state treasury despite formal liability disclaimer

• Galette (Respondent): (1) Founding-era bright-line rule denied sovereign immunity to all corporations liable for own judgments regardless of state ownership, control, or purpose; (2) Treasury factor proves dispositive because New Jersey statute explicitly disclaims legal liability for NJ Transit debts, eliminating state treasury exposure; (3) Corporate structure with sue-and-be-sued powers, operational independence, and commercial transportation function demonstrates legal separateness from state

Implications: NJ Transit victory allows states to extend sovereign immunity to state-created corporations operating across state lines while disclaiming their liabilities, potentially shielding transit authorities, universities, and development agencies nationwide from sister-state court jurisdiction. Galette victory reinforces Founding-era corporate separateness doctrine and makes treasury factor controlling, requiring actual state legal liability for immunity and limiting state power to manufacture constitutional immunity through entity characterization while maintaining corporate independence and debt disclaimers.

The Fine Print:

• N.J. Stat. § 27:25-17: "All expenses incurred by the corporation in carrying out the provisions of this act shall be payable from funds available to the corporation...No debt or liability of the corporation shall be deemed or construed to create or constitute a debt, liability, or a loan or pledge of the credit of the State"

• Eleventh Amendment: "The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State"

Primary Cases:

• Hess v. Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corp. (1994): Treasury factor constitutes "most salient factor" that "homes in on the impetus for the Eleventh Amendment: the prevention of federal-court judgments that must be paid out of a State's treasury"; when evidence on structure and control factors appears mixed, treasury factor becomes dispositive

• Bank of United States v. Planters' Bank of Georgia (1824): When government becomes partner in trading company, it "devests itself, so far as concerns the transactions of that company, of its sovereign character, and takes that of a private citizen"; corporate form precluded sovereign immunity regardless of state ownership or control

Link to Opinion: TBD.

Website Link to Opinion Summary: TBD.

Website Link to Oral Argument: TBD.

Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Argument Preview

[00:01:27] Oral Argument Begins

[00:01:38] New Jersey Transit Corp. Opening Statement

[00:03:46] Transit Free for All Questions

[00:29:21] Transit Round Robin Questions

[00:37:27] CSX Galette and Colt Opening Statement

[00:39:44] CSX Galette and Colt Free for All Questions

[01:07:30] CSX Galette and Colt Round Robin Questions

[01:08:09] Transit Rebuttal