{"argument_date":"2002-04-17T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2002-04-17T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2001","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Jones argued the law clearly established the conduct as unlawful.","Mr. Forrester cited eight Alabama judges who found no violation.","Mr. Schaerr argued common sense principles control the outcome.","Mr. Schlick stated immunity applies unless the violation was clear."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 5-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 5-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 3-9"}]}],"caption":"Hope v. Pelzer","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:32.100332Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:32.120008Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the sides that brought the case seek damages for excessive force. the opposing sides claim qualified immunity shields them from liability.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 5-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 5-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 3-9"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2002-04-17T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2001","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/01-309.html","primary_docket":"01-309","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T16:56:56.203060Z","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 scope of qualified immunity. It asks whether prior rulings clearly established the law. The outcome defines fair warning for officials."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 5-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 5-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 3-9"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 17, 2002."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 11-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want a damages award for the alleged excessive force.","the opposing sides want dismissal of the claim based on qualified immunity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 5-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 5-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 3-9"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue the law clearly established the conduct as unlawful.","the opposing sides argue the law was not clear to a reasonable officer."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 5-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 5-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 3-9"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Did prior rulings provide fair warning that the conduct was unlawful?","Does the Eighth Amendment prohibit handcuffing a prisoner to a bar?"],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 11-13"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute defines the limits of official immunity. It shapes how courts evaluate excessive force claims. It impacts the daily conduct of law enforcement officers."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 5-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 5-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 3-9"}]},{"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/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 11-13"}]}],"slug":"2001-01-309-hope-v-pelzer","term":"2001","title":"Does handcuffing a prisoner to a bar violate the Eighth Amendment?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 5-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 5-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-309.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 3-9"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}