October Term 2008 · Docket 07-1356
Can police use jailhouse snitches to impeach defendants?
Kansas seeks to admit jailhouse snitch testimony to impeach a defendant. The defendant argues this violates constitutional 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
Ms. Saharsky argued the Court allows voluntary statements for impeachment.
Mr. McAllister argued voluntary statements may be used for impeachment.
Mr. Edge raised problems with the State's position.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 37-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 37-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-25
- 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 27-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-31
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Kansas wants to use jailhouse snitch testimony to impeach a defendant. The defendant argues this violates constitutional rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 37-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 37-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-25
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 21, 2009.
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
Kansas wants to admit the jailhouse snitch testimony to impeach the defendant.
The defendant wants the court to exclude the jailhouse snitch testimony.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 37-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 37-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-25
What each side says
Kansas argues voluntary statements obtained in violation of constitutional standards may be used for impeachment.
The defendant argues the police actively elicited the testimony, violating constitutional protections.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 37-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 37-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-25
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if internal police discipline is verifiable.
Justice Scalia asked if other constitutional violations allow impeachment testimony.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-31
Why it matters
This case determines whether police can use jailhouse snitches to impeach defendants. It affects the balance between truth-seeking and constitutional rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 37-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 37-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-25
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 15-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 45-51
- 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 27-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-31
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 14, lines 37-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 37-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 37-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 37-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-25
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.