October Term 2005 · Docket 04-1495
Can a prosecutor target someone for protected speech?
A man claims postal inspectors prosecuted him for his speech. He seeks damages. The inspectors deny this claim.
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
Kneedler argued probable cause defeats the retaliation claim.
Kneedler rejected the qualified immunity standard as a solution.
Mccartan argued malicious prosecution is not the proper legal analog.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 1-3 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 1-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-3 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 21-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-45
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Hartman v. Moore
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-3 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 21-19
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 10, 2006.
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 66, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-19
What each side wants
Hartman wants a damages award for retaliatory prosecution.
Moore wants the dismissal of the lawsuit.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-3 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 21-19
What each side says
Hartman argues the First Amendment bars targeting for speech.
Moore argues probable cause defeats the retaliation claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-3 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 21-19
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if a person has a right not to be singled out for speech.
Justice Stevens asked if this right exists at common law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 1-3 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 1-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-45
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of First Amendment protections against government retaliation. It determines whether citizens can sue for damages when prosecutors act on speech. The outcome shapes the balance between free expression and law enforcement discretion.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-3 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 21-19
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 1-3 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 1-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-45
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 29, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-3 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 21-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-3 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 21-19 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 21-19
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.