{"argument_date":"2006-03-20T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2006-03-20T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2005","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case's advocate stated the caller knowingly told a government agent about a crime. This makes the statements testimonial.","the opposing side's advocate stated the operator asked questions to respond to an emergency. This makes the statements non-testimonial.","Justice Ginsburg noted the call was initiated by the victim. She described it as a cry for help.","Justice Roberts asked about a scenario where a victim yells at a neighbor. This tests the scope of the emergency exception."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 23-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 23-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 13-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 13-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 11-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 21-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 21-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 1-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 1-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 47-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-45"}]}],"caption":"Davis v. Washington","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.538996Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.552369Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a victim's 911 call seeking aid counts as formal testimony under the Confrontation Clause.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 23-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 23-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 13-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 13-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 11-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 21-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 21-3"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2006-03-20T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2005","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/05-5224.html","primary_docket":"05-5224","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T21:59:48.164721Z","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 boundary between emergency calls and formal testimony. The Confrontation Clause limits the use of out-of-court statements. The core issue is whether a 911 call seeking help qualifies as testimonial evidence."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 23-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 23-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 13-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 13-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 11-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 21-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 21-3"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 20, 2006."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 15-21"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the court to declare the 911 statements testimonial. This would exclude the statements from evidence at trial.","the opposing side wants the court to declare the 911 statements non-testimonial. This would allow the statements as evidence at trial."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 23-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 23-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 13-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 13-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 11-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 21-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 21-3"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the caller knowingly reported a crime to a government agent. This makes the statements testimonial under the Confrontation Clause.","the opposing side argues the operator asked questions to address an emergency. This makes the statements non-testimonial and admissible."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 23-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 23-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 13-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 13-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 11-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 21-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 21-3"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked what the caller wanted if not help. This probes the intent behind the 911 call.","Justice Breyer asked how the Confrontation Clause differs from hearsay rules. This seeks a clear legal distinction between the two concepts."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 1-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 1-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 47-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-45"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines when emergency calls become formal testimony. It affects how courts treat victim statements in domestic violence cases. The outcome shapes the balance between public safety and defendant rights."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 23-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 23-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 13-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 13-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 11-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 21-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 21-3"}]},{"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 10, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 1-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 1-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 47-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-45"}]}],"slug":"2005-05-5224-davis-v-washington","term":"2005","title":"Does a 911 call for help count as testimony?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 23-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 23-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 13-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 13-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 11-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 21-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-5224.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 21-3"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}