October Term 2003 · Docket 02-811
Does a wrong address on a warrant strip an officer of legal protection?
A federal agent searched a home using a warrant with the wrong address. The agent claims legal protection. The homeowner claims the error was obvious.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
The agent argued for a practical standard.
The agent cited prior case law.
The homeowner argued the error was obvious.
The homeowner cited the specific address error.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 29-17 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 29-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 13-15
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests how strictly courts judge warrant errors. One side argues for a practical standard. The other argues for strict accuracy.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 29-17 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 29-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 35-11
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 4, 2003.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 13-15
What each side wants
The agent wants legal protection from a lawsuit.
The homeowner wants the agent to pay damages.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 29-17 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 29-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 35-11
What each side says
The agent argues courts should use a practical standard.
The homeowner argues the warrant error was obvious.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 29-17 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 29-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 35-11
What the justices asked
How strictly must courts judge warrant errors?
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 13-15
Why it matters
This case defines the standard for judging warrant errors. It affects how courts treat obvious mistakes. It shapes officer liability for search errors.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 29-17 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 29-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 35-11
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 13-15
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 29-17 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 29-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 29-17 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 29-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 35-11
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.