{"argument_date":"2001-03-20T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2001-03-20T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2000","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","paragraphs":["Paul D. Clement argued qualified immunity plays a vital role in excessive force cases.","Clement stated the lower court decision effectively merged the immunity and constitutional tests.","Clement noted this merger occurs in unreasonable force cases just as in search cases.","Mr. Boyd explained the current process depends on the specific circuit court rules."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 27-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 27-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 49, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 17-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 39-58","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 39-58"}]}],"caption":"Saucier v. Katz","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:33.243662Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:33.257633Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the sides that brought the case seek a mandatory sequence for ruling on qualified immunity in excessive force cases. the opposing sides argue the current approach allows juries to decide the constitutional violation first.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 27-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 27-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 49, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 17-47"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2001-03-20T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2000","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/99-1977.html","primary_docket":"99-1977","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T18:00:10.571135Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["This case tests the procedural order for resolving qualified immunity claims. the sides that brought the case argue courts must decide immunity before the jury decides the constitutional violation. the opposing sides argue the current method allows juries to find a violation first."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 27-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 27-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 49, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 17-47"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 20, 2001."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 39-58","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 39-58"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want courts to decide qualified immunity before the jury decides the constitutional violation.","the opposing sides want courts to allow juries to decide the constitutional violation before applying qualified immunity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 27-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 27-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 49, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 17-47"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue merging the tests undermines the protective role of qualified immunity in excessive force cases.","the opposing sides argue the current approach creates confusion because some circuits send the issue to the jury first."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 27-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 27-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 49, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 17-47"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Rehnquist asked how the case is submitted after the argument concludes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 39-58","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 39-58"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines the procedural path for police officers facing excessive force lawsuits. It determines whether judges or juries resolve the immunity question first. This sequence affects how often officers face trial on constitutional claims."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 27-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 27-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 49, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 17-47"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 39-58","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 39-58"}]}],"slug":"2000-99-1977-saucier-v-katz","term":"2000","title":"Should courts decide qualified immunity before or after the jury finds excessive force?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 27-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 27-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 49, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1977.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 17-47"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}