October Term 2009 · Docket 08-680
Does a two-hour break in custody end the ban on police questioning?
Police asked a prisoner to talk again after a short break. He refused. The state wants that later statement admitted.
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
Maryland argues the break ended the protection against badgering.
Shatzer argues the protection continues until the suspect leaves custody.
questions
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 61, 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 8, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-41
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Maryland police questioned a prisoner. He invoked his right to silence. They stopped. Two hours later, they asked again. He confessed. The state argues the break ended the protection. The prisoner argues the protection never ended.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 37-43
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 5, 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 61, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-27
What each side wants
Maryland wants the court to admit the later confession.
Shatzer wants the court to suppress the later confession.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 37-43
What each side says
Maryland argues the two-hour break ended the protection against badgering.
Shatzer argues the protection continues until the suspect leaves custody.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 37-43
What the justices asked
Justice Stevens asked if prison limits access to lawyers.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if repeated questioning is allowed after breaks.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 61, 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 8, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-41
Why it matters
Police can question suspects after short breaks. Prisoners face unique pressure. The rule defines when silence is protected.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 37-43
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 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 61, 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 8, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-41
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 20, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 37-43
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.