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The American Doctrine Of Sovereign Immunity: An Historical Analysis, Daniel T. Murphy

Law Faculty Publications

Although more than one hundred and fifty years old, the case vivifying the concept of sovereign immunity, The Schooner Exchange v. M cFaddon, is still repeatedly referred to in judicial opinions. Significantly, it is cited not for purposes of distinction or historical perspective, but rather, is employed as a present underpinning for sovereign immunity, even though the political and social circumstances of today differ considerably from those existing in 1812.

Subsequent cases, however, while often justifying the conclusions reached by references to Marshall's discussion in The Schooner Exchange, have intertwined into the concept of sovereign immunity notions distinct from Chief …