Turkiye Halk Bankasi A.S. v. United States
2023 United States Supreme Court case
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Turkiye Halk Bankasi A.S. v. United States, 598 U.S. 264 (2023), was a United States Supreme Court case in which the court held that the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act's comprehensive scheme governing claims of sovereign immunity in civil actions against foreign states and their instrumentalities does not cover criminal cases.[1] The case concerned the exposure of Turkish state-owned bank Halkbank to prosecution by the Department of Justice.[2][3][4][5]
| Turkiye Halk Bankasi A.S. v. United States | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Argued January 17, 2023 Decided April 19, 2023 | |
| Full case name | Turkiye Halk Bankasi A.S. v. United States of America |
| Docket no. | 21-1450 |
| Argument | Oral argument |
| Opinion announcement | Opinion announcement |
| Questions presented | |
| Whether U.S. district courts may exercise subject-matter jurisdiction over criminal prosecutions against foreign sovereigns and their instrumentalities under 18 U.S.C. § 3231 and in light of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 1330, 1441(d), 1602-1611. | |
| Holding | |
| The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act's comprehensive scheme governing claims of sovereign immunity in civil actions against foreign states and their instrumentalities does not cover criminal cases. | |
| Court membership | |
| |
| Case opinions | |
| Majority | Kavanaugh, joined by Roberts, Thomas, Sotomayor, Kagan, Barrett, Jackson |
| Concur/dissent | Gorsuch, joined by Alito |
| Laws applied | |
| Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976 | |
Background
After an October 2021 ruling by judges José A. Cabranes, Joseph F. Bianco, and Amalya Kearse of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the Supreme Court granted certiorari, asking "[w]hether U.S. district courts may exercise subject-matter jurisdiction over criminal prosecutions against foreign sovereigns and their instrumentalities under 18 U.S.C. ... and in light of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act".[6]
The governments of Azerbaijan, Pakistan,[7] and Turkey filed amicus briefs in support of Halkbank. Professor Chimene Keitner and Mark B. Feldman filed an amicus brief supporting the government.[8]
Argument
Oral argument took place on January 17, 2023. Lisa Blatt argued on behalf of Halkbank.[2][5] On April 19, 2023, the Supreme Court affirmed the Second Circuit.[9]