{"argument_date":"2011-11-01T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2011-11-01T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2011","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","paragraphs":["Andrew Pincus argued that prior cases limit immunity for false affidavits.","the opposing side argued that all grand jury witnesses deserve absolute protection.","justice_questions"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 51-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 21-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-35"}]}],"caption":"Rehberg v. Paulk","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:35.589024Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The case tests whether a witness who files a false affidavit to start a prosecution receives absolute or qualified immunity.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-49"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2011-11-01T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2011","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/10-788.html","primary_docket":"10-788","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T23:43:53.167364Z","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 dispute centers on the scope of witness immunity in federal civil rights lawsuits."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-49"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 1, 2011."],"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/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants qualified immunity for false grand jury witnesses.","the opposing side wants absolute immunity for all grand jury witnesses."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-49"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues that false affidavits should not receive absolute protection.","the opposing side argues that all grand jury witnesses deserve absolute immunity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-49"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito asked if complaining witnesses exist in federal grand juries.","Justice Ginsburg questioned the definition of the witness who motivated the charge."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 51-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 21-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-35"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the legal shield for witnesses who provide false evidence to prosecutors."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-49"}]},{"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 51-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 51-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 21-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-35"}]}],"slug":"2011-10-788-rehberg-v-paulk","term":"2011","title":"Do false grand jury witnesses get absolute immunity?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-788.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-49"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}