October Term 2005 · Docket 05-502
Can police enter a home without a warrant to stop a fight?
Police entered a home to stop a fight. The city argues this was legal. The resident argues it violated his rights.
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
Mr. Gray argued the city police need flexibility to act.
Mr. Studebaker cited emergency aid and exigent circumstances as legal bases.
Mr. Mcnulty argued officers must not watch violence escalate.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 37-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-54
- 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 1-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-54 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-19
- 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 29-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-21
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The city wants a rule allowing entry to stop violence. The resident wants a rule requiring a warrant first.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 37-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-54
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 24, 2006.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
What each side wants
The city wants a rule allowing entry to stop violence.
The resident wants a rule requiring a warrant first.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 37-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-54
What each side says
The city argues officers need no warrant to stop imminent harm.
The resident argues officers must get a warrant before entering.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 37-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-54
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if police know when to use telephone warrants.
Justice Scalia asked if officers must always use telephone warrants.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-54 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-19
- 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 29-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-21
Why it matters
This case defines when police can enter homes without warrants. It affects public safety and privacy rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 37-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-54
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 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-54 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-19
- 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 29-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-21
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 15, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 37-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 37-21 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 37-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-54
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.