{"argument_date":"2018-01-09T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2018-01-09T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2017","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Loeb argued the government seeks to transform a contract violation into a constitutional waiver.","Mr. Feigin argued the side that brought the case must prove a connection to the car to claim privacy rights.","Mr. Loeb stated the government's claim that the driver violated criminal law is incorrect.","Mr. Feigin questioned the validity of claiming privacy in a vehicle one is not allowed to drive."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 55-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 55-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 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31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 51-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 49-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 71, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 73, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 13-25"}]}],"caption":"Byrd v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:21.117198Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:21.120004Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a rental agreement's consent clause allows police to search a car driven by an unauthorized person.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 55-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 55-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 49-43"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2018-01-09T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2017","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/16-1371.html","primary_docket":"16-1371","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T18:24:28.366952Z","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 Fourth Amendment protections in rental vehicles. The core issue is whether a contractual clause waives privacy rights for drivers not listed on the rental agreement."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 55-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 55-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 49-43"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 9, 2018."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 73, lines 17-19"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The government wants the court to uphold the search based on the rental contract's consent clause.","the side that brought the case wants the court to rule that the contract does not waive his Fourth Amendment rights."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 55-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 55-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 49-43"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The government argues the rental agreement's consent clause authorizes police to search the vehicle.","the side that brought the case argues the contract cannot strip an unauthorized driver of constitutional privacy protections."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 55-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 55-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 49-43"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito asked if Budget's consent to search would validate the search if the driver was unauthorized.","Chief Justice Roberts asked if the rental agreement itself constitutes consent to a police search."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 51-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 71, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 73, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 13-25"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the boundary between private contracts and constitutional rights. It determines whether rental companies can waive driver privacy through standard agreements. The outcome shapes police search powers in shared vehicles. It impacts millions of drivers who use rental cars. It clarifies the scope of Fourth Amendment protections in commercial contexts."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 55-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 55-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 49-43"}]},{"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 10, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 51-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 71, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 73, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 13-25"}]}],"slug":"2017-16-1371-byrd-v-united-states","term":"2017","title":"Can a rental car contract waive a driver's Fourth Amendment rights?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 55-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 55-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-1371_l6hc.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 49-43"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}