October Term 2005 · Docket 04-373
Can police fix a bad interrogation with a warning?
Maryland argues that a warning cures a bad interrogation. Blake argues that such warnings hide police abuse.
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
Maryland's lawyer said warnings stop police abuse.
Blake's lawyer said warnings hide intentional coercion.
Justice Ginsburg noted the trial judge found police used bad tactics.
Justice Kennedy questioned if lying about the death penalty is badgering.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 1-11 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 1-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-54 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 43-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 1-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-41
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether police can fix a bad interrogation with a warning. Maryland says this practice stops abuse. Blake says it hides bad police tactics.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 1-11 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 1-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 1-19
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 1, 2005.
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 58, lines 43-54 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 43-54
What each side wants
Maryland wants the Court to allow police to fix bad interrogations with warnings.
Blake wants the Court to ban police from fixing bad interrogations with warnings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 1-11 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 1-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 1-19
What each side says
Maryland argues that warnings stop police from abusing suspects during questioning.
Blake argues that warnings hide intentional police coercion and bad tactics.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 1-11 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 1-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 1-19
What the justices asked
Justice O'Connor asked if the suspect knew he faced the death penalty.
Justice Kennedy asked if holding a hand to a burning iron is voluntary.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-54 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 43-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-41
Why it matters
This case defines how police must handle suspect rights. It shapes how courts judge police conduct. It protects citizens from coercive interrogation tactics.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 1-11 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 1-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 1-19
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 3, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-1
- 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 11-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-54 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 43-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-41
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 18, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 1-11 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 1-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 1-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 1-11 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 1-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 1-19
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.