October Term 2008 · Docket 07-513
Does a police database error require suppressing evidence?
The dispute centers on whether a clerical error in a police database mandates the exclusion of evidence found during a subsequent arrest.
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
the side that brought the case's advocate stated the clerk notified the sheriff's department of the recalled warrant.
The government's advocate argued the exclusionary rule balances deterrence against the cost of excluding evidence.
The government's advocate stated the rule does not put the error back in the box.
the side that brought the case's advocate noted that showing an isolated error often requires a lengthy hearing.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 37-17 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 37-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-51
- 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 17-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case examines the scope of the exclusionary rule. It tests whether a good-faith administrative mistake by police warrants suppressing evidence. The core issue is the balance between deterring misconduct and admitting probative evidence.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 37-17 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 37-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-31
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 7, 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 64, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 29-39
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the evidence admitted because the police error was isolated and good-faith.
The government wants the evidence excluded to deter future police recordkeeping failures.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 37-17 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 37-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-31
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the exclusionary rule should not apply to isolated, good-faith administrative errors.
The government argues the rule must deter all police misconduct, regardless of the error's nature.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 37-17 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 37-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-31
What the justices asked
Does the argument depend on the specific department's recordkeeping quality?
Why did the first officer need a physical copy of the warrant?
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-51
- 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 41-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of the exclusionary rule. It determines how courts treat good-faith police errors. The outcome shapes the balance between evidence admissibility and police accountability.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 37-17 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 37-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-31
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 47-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-51
- 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 17-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
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 26, lines 37-17 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 37-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 37-17 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 37-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-31
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.