{"argument_date":"2014-10-06T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2014-10-06T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2014","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","paragraphs":["Jeffrey Fisher argued that officers should know the law. He stated that citizens rely on this presumption.","North Carolina’s advocate argued that the Fourth Amendment allows reasonable errors. He emphasized that police do not need to be perfect.","questions_and_answers"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 5-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 37-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 37-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 37-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-23"}]}],"caption":"Heien v. North Carolina","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:23.695259Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:23.698022Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"North Carolina argues that a police officer’s reasonable error about the law justifies a stop. The driver argues that such mistakes violate the Fourth Amendment.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 5-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 37-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 37-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 37-19"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2014-10-06T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2014","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/13-604.html","primary_docket":"13-604","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T20:32:13.285728Z","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 tests whether a police officer’s reasonable mistake of law can justify a traffic stop. North Carolina claims the officer acted reasonably. The driver claims the stop was unlawful."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 5-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 37-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 37-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 37-19"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 6, 2014."],"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/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 21-23"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["North Carolina wants the Court to uphold the traffic stop. It argues the officer’s reasonable mistake of law justifies the seizure.","The driver wants the Court to suppress evidence from the stop. It argues a reasonable mistake of law does not justify a seizure."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 5-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 37-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 37-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 37-19"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["North Carolina argues that the Fourth Amendment does not require police officers to be perfect. It claims reasonable mistakes of law should be tolerated.","The driver argues that officers must know the law. It claims a reasonable mistake of law does not provide probable cause for a stop."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 5-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 37-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 37-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 37-19"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Roberts asked if the Fourth Amendment protects only against unreasonable searches. He questioned the basis for the stop.","Justice Alito asked if an officer could request a search after issuing a warning. He explored the scope of the interaction."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-23"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the limits of police authority. It determines whether officers can rely on reasonable legal errors. The outcome shapes future traffic stops nationwide."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 5-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 37-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 37-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 37-19"}]},{"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 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-23"}]}],"slug":"2014-13-604-heien-v-north-carolina","term":"2014","title":"Does a reasonable mistake of law justify a traffic stop?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 5-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 37-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 37-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-604_j426.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 37-19"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}