October Term 2005 · Docket 05-5705
Does a domestic violence victim's statement to police count as testimony?
The case tests whether statements made to officers at a crime scene qualify as testimonial evidence under the Confrontation Clause.
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
Richard Friedman argued for Hammon. He said her statements were accusatory. He claimed they satisfied the definition of testimony.
Michael Fisher argued for Indiana. He said the statements were emergency reports. He compared them to 911 calls.
Justice Alito questioned the nature of 911 calls. He asked if they are always testimonial.
Justice Breyer challenged the state's broad definition. He worried it excludes too much evidence.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-9
- 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 11-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-5
- 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 21-23 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-45
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Amy Hammon told police officers about a domestic violence incident. Indiana prosecutors used her statements at trial. She argues these statements were testimonial. The state argues they were emergency reports. The Court must define the line between these two types of statements.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 21-29
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 20, 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 63, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 37-39
What each side wants
Hammon wants the Court to rule that her statements were testimonial. She wants the state to exclude them from evidence.
Indiana wants the Court to rule that her statements were non-testimonial. It wants to admit them as evidence.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 21-29
What each side says
Hammon argues her statements were made to build a case. She claims this makes them testimonial under the Constitution.
Indiana argues her statements were made to address an emergency. It claims this makes them non-testimonial.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 21-29
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if a 911 call describing a hit-and-run is testimonial.
Justice Breyer asked if the state's rule excludes statements far removed from prosecution.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-5
- 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 21-23 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-45
Why it matters
This case defines what counts as testimony. It affects how police handle domestic violence calls. It shapes the rights of victims and defendants in court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 21-29
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 23-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-25
- 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 11-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-5
- 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 21-23 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-45
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 28, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 21-29
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.