{"argument_date":"2010-03-01T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2010-03-01T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2009","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case's counsel argued the Michigan courts did not unreasonably apply precedent.","the opposing side's counsel stated the confession was properly admitted at trial.","the opposing side's counsel referenced language from the Miranda and Butler decisions.","the side that brought the case's counsel emphasized the need for an advice of rights and a waiver."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 45-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 31-35"}]}],"caption":"Berghuis v. Thompkins","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:25.691945Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a suspect's silence during interrogation constitutes a valid waiver of Miranda rights.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 45-11"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2010-03-01T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2009","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/08-1470.html","primary_docket":"08-1470","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T01:26:17.659353Z","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 examines the legal standard for waiving the right to remain silent. The core issue is whether silence alone satisfies the requirement for a knowing and voluntary waiver."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 45-11"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 1, 2010."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the Court to rule that silence does not waive Miranda rights.","the opposing side wants the Court to uphold the admission of the confession based on implied waiver."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 45-11"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues that a clear, affirmative statement is required to waive the right to remain silent.","the opposing side argues that the suspect's limited responses during questioning implied a waiver of rights."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 45-11"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Breyer asked if any specific event during the two-hour interrogation suggested a waiver.","Justice Sotomayor questioned how courts can infer waiver from limited responses without explicit words."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 31-35"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the boundary between silence and waiver. It determines how police must conduct interrogations. It protects the constitutional right to remain silent. It clarifies the burden of proof for the prosecution."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 45-11"}]},{"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 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 31-35"}]}],"slug":"2009-08-1470-berghuis-v-thompkins","term":"2009","title":"Does silence during police questioning waive the right to remain silent?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1470.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 45-11"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}