{"argument_date":"2013-02-26T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2013-02-26T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2012","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","paragraphs":["Maryland argues arrestees are in a unique category. They are on the gateway into the criminal justice system. Their privacy expectations are substantially reduced.","King argues the search was warrantless and suspicionless. He claims this practice is presumptively unconstitutional. He argues the state cites no valid exception.","questions_asked_by_justices"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 31-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 13-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 29-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 51-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 51-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-41"}]}],"caption":"Maryland v. King","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:34.636001Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:34.666677Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Maryland seeks to uphold its law requiring DNA collection from arrestees. King argues this practice violates his constitutional rights.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 31-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 13-27"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2013-02-26T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2012","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/12-207.html","primary_docket":"12-207","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T22:10:34.831859Z","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":["Maryland wants to keep its law requiring DNA collection from arrestees. It claims this practice helps solve crimes. King wants the court to strike down the law. He argues it violates his Fourth Amendment rights."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 31-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 13-27"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 26, 2013."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 5-11"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Maryland wants to keep its DNA collection law for arrestees.","King wants the court to strike down the DNA collection law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 31-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 13-27"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Maryland argues arrestees have reduced privacy expectations.","King argues warrantless suspicionless searches are unconstitutional."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 31-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 13-27"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Roberts asked how long the DNA procedure takes.","Justice Kagan asked if the state can search homes for unrelated crimes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 29-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 51-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 51-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-41"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the scope of police power during arrest. It determines whether DNA collection is a standard booking procedure. It affects the privacy rights of all arrestees nationwide."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 31-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 13-27"}]},{"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/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 29-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 51-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 51-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-41"}]}],"slug":"2012-12-207-maryland-v-king","term":"2012","title":"Does the Fourth Amendment allow police to collect DNA from arrestees without a warrant?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 31-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-207-lp23.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 13-27"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}