October Term 2008 · Docket 07-542
Can police search a car after the driver is arrested and secured?
Police searched a car after arresting the driver. The driver claims this violated his 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
Mr. Yang argued for an easily administrable rule for vehicle arrests.
Mr. Jacobs cited historical treatises to support the Fourth Amendment basis.
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 15, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 41-23 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 41-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-5
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of vehicle searches. It asks if officers need a specific reason to search a car after an arrest.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 41-23 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 41-23
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
What each side wants
Police want a broad rule allowing car searches after any arrest.
The driver wants a narrow rule limiting searches to officer safety.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 41-23 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 41-23
What each side says
Police argue a simple rule helps officers act quickly and safely.
The driver argues the search must connect directly to the arrest.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 41-23 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 41-23
What the justices asked
Justice Stevens asked if officer safety justifies the search after the driver is secured.
Justice Scalia asked about historical practices for searching carriages during arrests.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-5
Why it matters
This dispute defines the limits of police power. It affects how often officers can search vehicles. It balances public safety against personal privacy.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 41-23 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 41-23
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 23-27 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 23-27
- 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 47-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-5
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 15, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 41-23 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 41-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 41-23 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 41-23
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.