October Term 2007 · Docket 06-1082
Does state law control search validity?
Virginia argues state rules cannot override federal search standards. Moore argues state rules define valid searches.
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
Virginia claims probable cause makes arrests reasonable.
Moore claims states can restrict officer authority beyond federal rules.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- 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 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether state law can invalidate a search that federal law permits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-9
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 14, 2008.
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 59, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 33-35
What each side wants
Virginia wants the Court to uphold the search under federal law.
Moore wants the Court to suppress the evidence under state law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-9
What each side says
Virginia argues probable cause satisfies the Fourth Amendment.
Moore argues states may impose stricter search limits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-9
What the justices asked
Justice Stevens asked if the arrest was ongoing.
Justice Scalia asked if federal employees can conduct broad searches.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-13
Why it matters
This dispute defines the boundary between state and federal search powers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-9
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 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-13
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 17, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-9
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.