October Term 2008 · Docket 07-591
Must a lab analyst testify to prove a drug test result?
The dispute centers on whether a written drug test report requires the analyst to appear in court for cross-examination.
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
Fisher stated the Confrontation Clause protects against trial by affidavit.
Schertler argued the Confrontation Clause does not apply to machine-generated results.
Coakley claimed the drug certificates are not testimonial statements.
Kennedy questioned if a lab report is distinct from a police report.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 45-13
- 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 29-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 5-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Jeffrey Fisher argues the Confrontation Clause bans trial by affidavit. He says the right to confront witnesses is core to fair trials. The state argues the report is a machine-generated result. It is not a witness statement. The state says the defendant can call the analyst if needed. This avoids forcing the state to produce the analyst.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 5-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 10, 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 23-51 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 23-51
What each side wants
Fisher wants the analyst to testify in court.
The state wants to admit the report without the analyst.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 5-37
What each side says
Fisher argues the report is a testimonial statement.
The state argues the report is a non-testimonial record.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 5-37
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if a lab report differs from a police accident report.
Justice Roberts asked if a lab supervisor could testify instead of the analyst.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-7
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of the right to confront witnesses. It determines whether lab reports require live testimony. The outcome affects how prosecutors prove scientific evidence in criminal trials. It shapes the balance between trial efficiency and defendant rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 5-37
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 9-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 5-13
- 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 29-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-7
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 28, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 5-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 5-37
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.