October Term 2004 · Docket 04-278
Does a mandatory protective order create a federal property right to police enforcement?
Jessica Gonzales claims a Colorado statute created a property right to police enforcement. The Town of Castle Rock argues no such right exists.
Verified source milestones
- — 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
John Eastman argued the tragedy does not create a property interest.
He stated the restraining order did not grant a property right.
Mr. Reichel argued students receive more process than protective order holders.
He claimed the town provides less process than required by precedent.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 29-27 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 29-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-19
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether a state statute creates a federal property interest. The dispute centers on the meaning of the word shall in a protective order.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 29-27 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 29-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 13-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 21, 2005.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 3-11
What each side wants
Jessica Gonzales wants the Court to find a property right to enforcement.
The Town of Castle Rock wants the Court to reject that property right.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 29-27 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 29-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 13-37
What each side says
Gonzales argues the statute mandates police action and creates a property interest.
Castle Rock argues private citizens lack a judicially cognizable interest in arrest.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 29-27 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 29-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 13-37
What the justices asked
Justice O'Connor asked how Colorado interprets the mandatory language.
Justice Scalia asked if the property interest question is state law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-19
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of federal due process protections. It determines whether state statutes can create enforceable property rights. The outcome shapes police accountability for protective orders.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 29-27 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 29-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 13-37
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 3-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-19
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 29-27 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 29-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 29-27 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 29-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 13-37
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.