{"argument_date":"2004-12-08T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2004-12-08T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Phillips argued officer safety is paramount.","Mr. Hoffman argued the detention was excessive.","Mr. Shanmugam argued restraints are routine and reasonable."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 45-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 17-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 29-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 35-43"}]}],"caption":"Muehler v. Mena","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.887166Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.921595Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Officers detained a woman during a search. She claims excessive force. They claim safety.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 45-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 17-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 29-37"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2004-12-08T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/03-1423.html","primary_docket":"03-1423","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T15:05:15.857058Z","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":["Police executed a search warrant. They detained occupants. The woman sued for excessive force. The officers seek qualified immunity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 45-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 17-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 29-37"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 8, 2004."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 45-7"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Officers want qualified immunity from the lawsuit.","The woman wants the excessive force verdict to stand."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 45-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 17-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 29-37"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Officers argue restraints ensure safety during searches.","The woman argues the detention was excessive force."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 45-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 17-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 29-37"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Breyer asked how to apply qualified immunity here.","Justice O'Connor asked if qualified immunity is at issue."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 35-43"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines police authority during searches. It balances officer safety against individual liberty. It sets limits on detention during warrant execution."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 45-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 17-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 29-37"}]},{"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 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 35-43"}]}],"slug":"2004-03-1423-muehler-v-mena","term":"2004","title":"Can police detain occupants during a search warrant execution?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 45-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 17-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1423.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 29-37"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}