October Term 2004 · Docket 03-1423
Can police detain occupants during a search warrant execution?
Officers detained a woman during a search. She claims excessive force. They claim safety.
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
Mr. Phillips argued officer safety is paramount.
Mr. Hoffman argued the detention was excessive.
Mr. Shanmugam argued restraints are routine and reasonable.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-31 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-43
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Police executed a search warrant. They detained occupants. The woman sued for excessive force. The officers seek qualified immunity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-31 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 29-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 8, 2004.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 45-7
What each side wants
Officers want qualified immunity from the lawsuit.
The woman wants the excessive force verdict to stand.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-31 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 29-37
What each side says
Officers argue restraints ensure safety during searches.
The woman argues the detention was excessive force.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-31 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 29-37
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked how to apply qualified immunity here.
Justice O'Connor asked if qualified immunity is at issue.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-43
Why it matters
This case defines police authority during searches. It balances officer safety against individual liberty. It sets limits on detention during warrant execution.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-31 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 29-37
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 25-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-43
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 18, lines 45-31 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-31 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 29-37
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.