The Arizona v. California Collection at the William A. Wise Law Library contains more than 185 full-text, searchable pleadings, briefs, orders, transcripts, and reports from the historic, 12-year original proceeding in the U.S. Supreme Court filed by the State of Arizona against the State of California, which sought to clarify rights to the use of Colorado River basin water. The case culminated in a June 3, 1963 decision, reported in Arizona v. California , 373 U.S. 546 , which was implemented by a March 9, 1964 decree, reported in Arizona v. California , 376 U.S. 340.
The Wise Law Library’s Arizona v. California Collection was acquired in part through the efforts of former University of Colorado Law Library Director, J. Myron Jacobstein, a legend in the field of legal research pedagogy. The Collection features many key filings by Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and the United States, as well as the 1960 draft and final reports of Special Master Simon H. Rifkind and copies of the U.S. Supreme Court’s opinion and decree . The Collection also includes Special Master Elbert P. Tuttle’s 1982 report in the reopened Arizona v. California case decided in 1983; this report is a gift of the David H. Getches family.
![Reporters’ Transcript : Before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, Special Master, Thursday, August 16, 1956, Friday, August 17, 1956, Monday, August 20, 1956 (v. 11 [v. 32 – 33 – 34], pp. 5156-5675-A), Arizona v. California, No. [10], Original, October Term.](https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/arizona-v-california/1019/thumbnail.jpg "Reporters’ Transcript : Before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, Special Master, Thursday, August 16, 1956, Friday, August 17, 1956, Monday, August 20, 1956 (v. 11 [v. 32 – 33 – 34], pp. 5156-5675-A), Arizona v. California, No. [10], Original, October Term.")
![Reporters’ Transcript : Before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, Special Master, Thursday, July 26, 1956, Friday, July 27, 1956, Monday, July 30, 1956 (v. 8 [v. 22 – 23 – 24], pp. 3654-4171), Arizona v. California, No. [10], Original, October Term.](https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/arizona-v-california/1023/thumbnail.jpg "Reporters’ Transcript : Before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, Special Master, Thursday, July 26, 1956, Friday, July 27, 1956, Monday, July 30, 1956 (v. 8 [v. 22 – 23 – 24], pp. 3654-4171), Arizona v. California, No. [10], Original, October Term.")
![Reporters’ Transcript : Before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, Special Master, Thursday, June 14, 1956, Friday, June 15, 1956, Tuesday, June 19, 1956 (v. 1 [v. 1 – 2 – 3], pp. 1-532), Arizona v. California, No. [10], Original, 1955 Term.](https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/arizona-v-california/1032/thumbnail.jpg "Reporters’ Transcript : Before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, Special Master, Thursday, June 14, 1956, Friday, June 15, 1956, Tuesday, June 19, 1956 (v. 1 [v. 1 – 2 – 3], pp. 1-532), Arizona v. California, No. [10], Original, 1955 Term.")
![Reporters’ Transcript : Before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, Special Master, Thursday, June 28, 1956, Friday, June 29, 1956, Monday, July 2, 1956 (v. 4 [v. 10 – 11 – 12], pp. 1551-2062), Arizona v. California, No. [10], Original, October Term.](https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/arizona-v-california/1028/thumbnail.jpg "Reporters’ Transcript : Before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, Special Master, Thursday, June 28, 1956, Friday, June 29, 1956, Monday, July 2, 1956 (v. 4 [v. 10 – 11 – 12], pp. 1551-2062), Arizona v. California, No. [10], Original, October Term.")
![Reporters’ Transcript : Before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, Special Master, Tuesday, August 21, 1956, Wednesday, August 22, 1956, Thursday, August 23, 1956, Friday, August 24, 1956, Monday, August 27, 1956 (v. 12 [v. 35–36–37- 38 - 39], pp. 5676-6303), Arizona v. California, No. [10], Original, October Term.](https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/arizona-v-california/1026/thumbnail.jpg "Reporters’ Transcript : Before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, Special Master, Tuesday, August 21, 1956, Wednesday, August 22, 1956, Thursday, August 23, 1956, Friday, August 24, 1956, Monday, August 27, 1956 (v. 12 [v. 35–36–37- 38 - 39], pp. 5676-6303), Arizona v. California, No. [10], Original, October Term.")
![Reporters’ Transcript : Before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, Special Master, Tuesday, July 31, 1956, Wednesday, August 1, 1956, Thursday, August 2, 1956 (v. 9 [v. 25 – 26 – 27], pp. 4172-4706), Arizona v. California, No. [10], Original, October Term.](https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/arizona-v-california/1025/thumbnail.jpg "Reporters’ Transcript : Before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, Special Master, Tuesday, July 31, 1956, Wednesday, August 1, 1956, Thursday, August 2, 1956 (v. 9 [v. 25 – 26 – 27], pp. 4172-4706), Arizona v. California, No. [10], Original, October Term.")
![Reporters’ Transcript : Before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, Special Master, Tuesday, July 3, 1956, Thursday, July 5, 1956, Friday, July 6, 1956 (v. 5 [v. 13 – 14 – 15], pp. 2063-2637), Arizona v. California, No. [10], Original, October Term.](https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/arizona-v-california/1027/thumbnail.jpg "Reporters’ Transcript : Before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, Special Master, Tuesday, July 3, 1956, Thursday, July 5, 1956, Friday, July 6, 1956 (v. 5 [v. 13 – 14 – 15], pp. 2063-2637), Arizona v. California, No. [10], Original, October Term.")
![Reporters’ Transcript : Before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, Special Master, Wednesday, July 18, 1956, Thursday, July 19, 1956, Friday, July 20, 1956 (v. 6 [v. 16 – 17 – 18], pp. 2638-3135-A), Arizona v. California, No. 10, Original, October Term.](https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/arizona-v-california/1022/thumbnail.jpg "Reporters’ Transcript : Before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, Special Master, Wednesday, July 18, 1956, Thursday, July 19, 1956, Friday, July 20, 1956 (v. 6 [v. 16 – 17 – 18], pp. 2638-3135-A), Arizona v. California, No. 10, Original, October Term.")
![Reporters’ Transcript : Before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, Special Master, Wednesday, June 20, 1956, Thursday, June 21, 1956, Friday, June 22, 1956 (v. 2 [v. 4 – 5 – 6], pp. 533-1048-A), Arizona v. California, No. [10], Original, October Term.](https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/arizona-v-california/1031/thumbnail.jpg "Reporters’ Transcript : Before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, Special Master, Wednesday, June 20, 1956, Thursday, June 21, 1956, Friday, June 22, 1956 (v. 2 [v. 4 – 5 – 6], pp. 533-1048-A), Arizona v. California, No. [10], Original, October Term.")
![State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [el al.] defendants : United States of America, intervener : State of Nevada, intervener : State of Utah, party : State of New Mexico, party: answers of the State of Utah to interrogatories addressed to the State of Utah by the California defendants.](https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/arizona-v-california/1147/thumbnail.jpg "State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [el al.] defendants : United States of America, intervener : State of Nevada, intervener : State of Utah, party : State of New Mexico, party: answers of the State of Utah to interrogatories addressed to the State of Utah by the California defendants.")
![State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [et al.], defendants : United States of America and State of Nevada, interveners : State of New Mexico and State of Utah, parties : before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, special master: brief of the California defendants in support of their recommendations as to the order of proof to be observed at the trial.](https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/arizona-v-california/1134/thumbnail.jpg "State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [et al.], defendants : United States of America and State of Nevada, interveners : State of New Mexico and State of Utah, parties : before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, special master: brief of the California defendants in support of their recommendations as to the order of proof to be observed at the trial.")
![State of Arizona, complainant vs. State of California ... [et al.], defendants : United States of America and State of Nevada, interveners : State of New Mexico and State of Utah, parties : before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, special master: interrogatories addressed to the complainant, State of Arizona, by the California defendants : set no. 3.](https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/arizona-v-california/1200/thumbnail.jpg "State of Arizona, complainant vs. State of California ... [et al.], defendants : United States of America and State of Nevada, interveners : State of New Mexico and State of Utah, parties : before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, special master: interrogatories addressed to the complainant, State of Arizona, by the California defendants : set no. 3.")
![State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [et al.], defendants : United States of America and State of Nevada, interveners : State of New Mexico and State of Utah, parties : before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, special master: memorandum of the California defendants in support of their motion of April 11, 1956, to require further answers of complainant, State of Arizona, to interrogatories, sets numbers 1 and 2.](https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/arizona-v-california/1148/thumbnail.jpg "State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [et al.], defendants : United States of America and State of Nevada, interveners : State of New Mexico and State of Utah, parties : before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, special master: memorandum of the California defendants in support of their motion of April 11, 1956, to require further answers of complainant, State of Arizona, to interrogatories, sets numbers 1 and 2.")
![State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [et al.], defendants : United States of America and State of Nevada, interveners : State of New Mexico and State of Utah, parties : before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, special master: order of special master.](https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/arizona-v-california/1162/thumbnail.jpg "State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [et al.], defendants : United States of America and State of Nevada, interveners : State of New Mexico and State of Utah, parties : before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, special master: order of special master.")
![State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [et al.], defendants : United States of America and State of Nevada, interveners : State of New Mexico and State of Utah, parties : before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, special master: pre-trial order.](https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/arizona-v-california/1177/thumbnail.jpg "State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [et al.], defendants : United States of America and State of Nevada, interveners : State of New Mexico and State of Utah, parties : before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, special master: pre-trial order.")
![State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [et al.], defendants : United States of America and State of Nevada, interveners : State of New Mexico and State of Utah, parties : before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, special master: request of the California defendants for admissions.](https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/arizona-v-california/1141/thumbnail.jpg "State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [et al.], defendants : United States of America and State of Nevada, interveners : State of New Mexico and State of Utah, parties : before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, special master: request of the California defendants for admissions.")
![State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [et al.], defendants : United States of America and State of Nevada, interveners : State of New Mexico and State of Utah, parties : before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, special master: statement of the issues as submitted by the California defendants for the Pre-trial Conference at San Francisco April 10-13, 1956.](https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/arizona-v-california/1224/thumbnail.jpg "State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [et al.], defendants : United States of America and State of Nevada, interveners : State of New Mexico and State of Utah, parties : before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, special master: statement of the issues as submitted by the California defendants for the Pre-trial Conference at San Francisco April 10-13, 1956.")
![State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [et al.], defendants : United States of America, intervener : State of Nevada, intervener : State of New Mexico, impleaded : State of Utah, impleaded : before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, special master: answers of the State of Arizona to interrogatories addressed to the complainant, the State of Arizona, by the California defendants, set no. 1.](https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/arizona-v-california/1227/thumbnail.jpg "State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [et al.], defendants : United States of America, intervener : State of Nevada, intervener : State of New Mexico, impleaded : State of Utah, impleaded : before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, special master: answers of the State of Arizona to interrogatories addressed to the complainant, the State of Arizona, by the California defendants, set no. 1.")
![State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [et al.], defendants : United States of America, intervener : State of Nevada, intervener : State of New Mexico, impleaded : State of Utah, impleaded : before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, special master: answers of the State of New Mexico to interrogatories addressed to the State of New Mexico by the California defendants.](https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/arizona-v-california/1179/thumbnail.jpg "State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [et al.], defendants : United States of America, intervener : State of Nevada, intervener : State of New Mexico, impleaded : State of Utah, impleaded : before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, special master: answers of the State of New Mexico to interrogatories addressed to the State of New Mexico by the California defendants.")
![State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [et al.], defendants : United States of America, intervener : State of Nevada, intervener : State of New Mexico, party : State of Utah, party: answer of California defendants to appearance and statement in behalf of New Mexico of its claim of interest in and to Lower Basin waters, and : interrogatories addressed to the State of New Mexico by the California defendants.](https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/arizona-v-california/1008/thumbnail.jpg "State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [et al.], defendants : United States of America, intervener : State of Nevada, intervener : State of New Mexico, party : State of Utah, party: answer of California defendants to appearance and statement in behalf of New Mexico of its claim of interest in and to Lower Basin waters, and : interrogatories addressed to the State of New Mexico by the California defendants.")
![State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [et al.] defendants : United States of America, intervener : State of Nevada, intervener : State of New Mexico, party : State of Utah, party : before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, special master: interrogatories addressed to the intervener, the State of Nevada, by the California defendants.](https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/arizona-v-california/1001/thumbnail.jpg "State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [et al.] defendants : United States of America, intervener : State of Nevada, intervener : State of New Mexico, party : State of Utah, party : before the Hon. Simon H. Rifkind, special master: interrogatories addressed to the intervener, the State of Nevada, by the California defendants.")
![State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [et al.], defendants : United States of America, intervener : State of Nevada, intervener : State of Utah, party : State of New Mexico, party: answer of California defendants to complaint and answer in intervention by the State of Utah, and : interrogatories addressed to the State of Utah by the California defendants.](https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/arizona-v-california/1092/thumbnail.jpg "State of Arizona, complainant, vs. State of California ... [et al.], defendants : United States of America, intervener : State of Nevada, intervener : State of Utah, party : State of New Mexico, party: answer of California defendants to complaint and answer in intervention by the State of Utah, and : interrogatories addressed to the State of Utah by the California defendants.")
