October Term 2010 · Docket 09-150
Does a dying victim's statement to police count as testimony or an emergency report?
The case tests whether a dying man's answers to police questions count as formal testimony or an urgent emergency report.
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
Ms. Palmer argued formality determines the statement's legal status.
Mr. Van Hoek argued past crime reports can imply ongoing emergencies.
Justice Scalia rejected formality as the deciding factor.
Justice Sotomayor emphasized the declarant's primary purpose matters.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 29-9
- 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 29-49 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-11
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on the legal status of a dying victim's statements. Michigan argues the statements served an emergency purpose. The defense argues they served a testimonial purpose.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 29-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 37-1
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 5, 2010.
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 45-5 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 45-5
What each side wants
Michigan wants the Court to admit the victim's statements as evidence.
The defense wants the Court to keep the victim's statements excluded.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 29-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 37-1
What each side says
Michigan argues the statements served an urgent emergency purpose.
The defense argues the statements served a formal testimonial purpose.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 29-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 37-1
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked how to distinguish emergency questions from testimonial ones.
Justice Sotomayor asked who holds the primary purpose of the inquiry.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-11
Why it matters
The ruling defines when police questioning creates testimonial evidence. It shapes how courts treat dying victims' statements. It affects the balance between public safety and defendant rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 29-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 37-1
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 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-11
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 29-9 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 29-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 29-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 37-1
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.