October Term 2006 · Docket 05-1240
When can a person sue for an illegal search?
The dispute centers on the timing of civil lawsuits for Fourth Amendment violations.
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
Ms. Solomon argued the right to sue begins when the violation occurs.
Justice Ginsburg asked how this case differs from the Heck decision.
Justice Souter asked if the confession happened before judicial intervention.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-13 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 39-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-5
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case asks when a person may sue for an illegal search. One side argues the right to sue begins immediately upon the violation. The other side argues the right to sue waits until the criminal conviction is overturned.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-13 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 39-13
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 6, 2006.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants to sue immediately after the illegal search occurs.
the opposing side wants the lawsuit to wait until the criminal conviction is invalidated.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-13 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 39-13
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the right to sue arises when the Fourth Amendment violation happens.
the opposing side argues the right to sue depends on the conviction being invalidated.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-13 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 39-13
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if the argument applies when other evidence exists.
Justice Scalia asked if the challenge must necessarily invalidate the conviction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-5
Why it matters
This case defines the start of the clock for suing over illegal searches. It determines how long citizens wait to seek redress. It shapes the balance between criminal proceedings and civil rights claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-13 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 39-13
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 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-5
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 27, lines 39-13 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 39-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-13 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 39-13
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.