{"argument_date":"2007-04-23T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2007-04-23T00:00:00Z","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/2006/06-8120.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Campbell argued that flashing lights seize every person in the car.","Mr. Zall argued that the state views the situation as having two components.","justice_questioned_by_souter","justice_questioned_by_alito"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 7-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 7-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 39-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-7"}]}],"caption":"Brendlin v. California","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:27.855404Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a passenger is legally seized during a routine traffic stop.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 7-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 7-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2007-04-23T00:00:00Z","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/06-8120.html","primary_docket":"06-8120","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T12:27:25.302916Z","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 if a passenger is seized when police stop a car."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 7-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 7-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 23, 2007."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the Court to rule that passengers are seized during stops.","The state wants the Court to rule that passengers are not seized during stops."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 7-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 7-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues that activating lights seizes everyone inside the vehicle.","The state argues that the stop targets the driver, not the passenger."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 7-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 7-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Souter asked if being in a stopped vehicle means you are seized.","Justice Alito asked if the officer recognized the defendant as a parole violator."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 39-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-7"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This ruling defines the scope of police authority during traffic stops. It determines when passengers gain Fourth Amendment protections. It clarifies the legal status of individuals in stopped vehicles."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 7-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 7-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"}]},{"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 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 39-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-7"}]}],"slug":"2006-06-8120-brendlin-v-california","term":"2006","title":"Does a traffic stop seize the vehicle's passengers?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 7-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 7-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-8120.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}