{"argument_date":"2006-11-06T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2006-11-06T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2006","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Solomon argued the right to sue begins when the violation occurs.","Justice Ginsburg asked how this case differs from the Heck decision.","Justice Souter asked if the confession happened before judicial intervention."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 39-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 51-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 45-5"}]}],"caption":"Wallace v. Kato","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.240957Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on the timing of civil lawsuits for Fourth Amendment violations.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 39-13"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2006-11-06T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2006","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/05-1240.html","primary_docket":"05-1240","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T13:02:11.753271Z","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":["The case asks when a person may sue for an illegal search. One side argues the right to sue begins immediately upon the violation. The other side argues the right to sue waits until the criminal conviction is overturned."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 39-13"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 6, 2006."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants to sue immediately after the illegal search occurs.","the opposing side wants the lawsuit to wait until the criminal conviction is invalidated."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 39-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the right to sue arises when the Fourth Amendment violation happens.","the opposing side argues the right to sue depends on the conviction being invalidated."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 39-13"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito asked if the argument applies when other evidence exists.","Justice Scalia asked if the challenge must necessarily invalidate the conviction."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 51-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 45-5"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the start of the clock for suing over illegal searches. It determines how long citizens wait to seek redress. It shapes the balance between criminal proceedings and civil rights claims."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 39-13"}]},{"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 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 51-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 45-5"}]}],"slug":"2006-05-1240-wallace-v-kato","term":"2006","title":"When can a person sue for an illegal search?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-1240.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 39-13"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}