October Term 2005 · Docket 04-1414
Can police execute a search warrant before a specific triggering event occurs?
The dispute centers on whether law enforcement must wait for a specific event to happen before executing a search warrant.
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
General Dreeben argued the warrant particularly described the place and things to be seized.
Mr. Reichel noted that triggering events are commonly not so clean.
Justice Kennedy suggested that adding a qualification makes a big change in warrant usage.
Justice Souter emphasized an ongoing obligation of reasonableness in how searches are carried out.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-21
- 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 23-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 1-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 1-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-41
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case examines the validity of anticipatory search warrants. The government argues these warrants are legal if probable cause exists at issuance. The defendant argues execution requires a specific triggering event to occur first.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-45
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 18, 2006.
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 60, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-7
What each side wants
The government wants the Court to uphold the search and affirm the conviction.
The defendant wants the Court to suppress the evidence and reverse the conviction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-45
What each side says
The government argues the warrant was valid because it described the place and items clearly.
The defendant argues the search was unreasonable because the triggering event did not occur.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-45
What the justices asked
Justice Stevens asked if the executing officer must be the same officer who obtained the warrant.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if execution before the triggering event invalidates the warrant due to lack of probable cause.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 1-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 1-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-41
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of anticipatory search warrants. It determines when police may enter a home. It balances privacy rights against law enforcement needs. It sets a standard for future warrant executions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-45
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 10, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 37-47
- 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 23-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 1-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 1-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-41
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 28, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-45
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.