{"argument_date":"2004-11-08T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2004-11-08T00:00:00Z","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/2004/03-710.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Hart argued the Ninth Circuit correctly invalidated the arrest. She stated the officers were personally liable for damages.","Mr. Phillips argued the closely related offense doctrine protects constitutional rights. He claimed it prevents arrests for non-criminal conduct.","Mr. Comey argued Fourth Amendment validity requires an objective assessment. He viewed the facts through a specific legal prism."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 27-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 27-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 6-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 6-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 14-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 14-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 4-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 4-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 1-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 1-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 18-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 34-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 44-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 44-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 1-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 1-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 12-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 34-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 1-2","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 1-2"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 14-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 8-10"}]}],"caption":"Devenpeck v. Alford","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.961954Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Officers arrested a man for recording a police stop. The Ninth Circuit found this violated the Fourth Amendment. The officers argue the arrest was valid.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 27-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 27-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 6-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 6-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 14-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 14-54"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2004-11-08T00:00:00Z","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/03-710.html","primary_docket":"03-710","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T22:18:13.401042Z","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 closely related offense doctrine. This rule allows arrests for minor, non-criminal acts if they relate to a crime. The Ninth Circuit rejected this rule here. The officers argue the rule protects constitutional rights."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 27-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 27-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 6-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 6-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 14-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 14-54"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 8, 2004."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 4-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 4-12"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The officers want the Ninth Circuit decision overturned. They seek to keep the closely related offense doctrine valid.","Mr. Alford wants the Ninth Circuit decision upheld. He seeks to confirm that recording police is not an arrestable offense."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 27-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 27-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 6-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 6-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 14-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 14-54"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The officers argue the closely related offense doctrine enforces the reasonableness clause. They claim it prevents arrests for non-criminal conduct.","Mr. Alford argues the arrest lacked lawful grounds. He contends recording a police conversation is not a crime."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 27-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 27-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 6-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 6-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 14-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 14-54"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice O'Connor asked if recording police conversations is lawful in Washington.","Justice O'Connor asked if the arrest was based on the recording act itself."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 1-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 1-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 18-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 34-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 44-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 44-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 1-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 1-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 12-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 34-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 1-2","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 1-2"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 14-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 8-10"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the limits of police power during traffic stops. It determines whether citizens can record officers without fear of arrest. The outcome shapes the balance between public oversight and law enforcement authority."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 27-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 27-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 6-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 6-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 14-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 14-54"}]},{"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 4-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 4-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 1-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 1-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 18-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 34-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 44-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 44-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 1-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 1-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 12-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 34-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 1-2","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 1-2"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 14-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 8-10"}]}],"slug":"2004-03-710-devenpeck-v-alford","term":"2004","title":"Can police arrest someone for recording a lawful conversation?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 27-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 27-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 6-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 6-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 14-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-710.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 14-54"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}