October Term 2008 · Docket 08-479
Does a school need specific evidence before strip-searching a student?
School officials argue a health risk justified the search. The student argues the search lacked specific evidence.
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 school argued the search was reasonable due to a health risk.
The student argued the search required greater justification under the Fourth Amendment.
Justice Souter questioned the assumption that all drugs pose a health risk.
Justice Scalia asked about prior incidents involving students and medication.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 3-21 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 3-21
- 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 33-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 29-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 19-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Safford Unified School District v. Redding
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 3-21 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 3-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 29-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 19-11
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 21, 2009.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 11-13
What each side wants
The school district wants the Court to uphold the search as constitutional.
The student wants the Court to rule the search violated her rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 3-21 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 3-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 29-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 19-11
What each side says
The school argues the search was reasonable because the drugs posed a health risk.
The student argues the search was too intrusive without specific evidence of danger.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 3-21 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 3-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 29-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 19-11
What the justices asked
Justice Souter asked if a blanket assumption about drug risks is acceptable.
Justice Scalia asked if students were popping ibuprofen or aspirin before the search.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-5
- 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 33-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-13
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of school searches. It determines when officials can strip-search students. It balances student privacy against school safety needs.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 3-21 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 3-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 29-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 19-11
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 35-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- 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 33-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-13
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 24, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 3-21 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 3-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 29-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 19-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 3-21 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 3-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 29-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 19-11
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.