On November 7, 2011 the Supreme Court heard oral argument in M.B.Z. v. Clinton. This case presents two questions concerning U.S. citizens born in Jerusalem: (1) whether courts have jurisdiction to enforce a federal statute directing the Secretary of State to, if requested, record the birthplace of such citizens on passports and consular reports as “Israel”; and (2) whether that statute improperly interferes with the President’s constitutional authority to recognize foreign sovereigns.
To discuss the case, we have John Elwood, who is a partner at Vinson & Elkins’s appellate group.
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