{"argument_date":"2010-10-05T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2010-10-05T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2010","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Coates argued that Monell requires proof of causation by a local policy.","Mr. Pincus argued that Monell’s causation requirement does not preclude direct constitutional claims.","Justice Kennedy questioned whether plaintiffs could sue outside of Section 1983.","Justice Scalia suggested suing individual officers under Section 1983 for injunctive relief."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 39-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 39-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-11"}]}],"caption":"Los Angeles County v. Humphries","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:35.879322Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Los Angeles County argues that Section 1983 requires proof of a specific policy causing injury. Humphries contends that direct constitutional violations suffice for liability.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 39-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 39-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-15"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2010-10-05T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2010","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/09-350.html","primary_docket":"09-350","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T01:05:39.533150Z","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 scope of liability for local public entities under federal civil rights law. The dispute centers on whether a plaintiff must prove a specific custom or policy caused the injury. Los Angeles County seeks to maintain this causation requirement. Humphries argues that a direct violation of constitutional rights is enough to establish liability."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 39-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 39-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-15"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 5, 2010."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Los Angeles County wants the Court to require proof that a specific policy caused the injury.","Humphries wants the Court to allow liability based solely on a direct constitutional violation."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 39-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 39-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Los Angeles County argues that Section 1983 requires proof of causation by a local custom or policy.","Humphries argues that Monell’s causation requirement does not bar suits based on direct constitutional violations."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 39-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 39-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-15"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Kennedy asked if plaintiffs could sue outside of Section 1983.","Justice Scalia asked if suing an individual officer under Section 1983 provides injunctive relief."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-11"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the legal standard for holding local governments accountable for civil rights violations. It determines whether plaintiffs must prove a specific policy caused their injury. The outcome shapes the scope of federal civil rights remedies available to citizens."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 39-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 39-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-15"}]},{"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/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-11"}]}],"slug":"2010-09-350-los-angeles-county-v-humphries","term":"2010","title":"Can plaintiffs sue local governments for constitutional violations without proving a specific policy caused the harm?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 39-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 39-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-350.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-15"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}