October Term 2011 · Docket 10-680
Does prison isolation trigger Miranda rights for off-prison conduct?
The dispute centers on whether a prisoner isolated for questioning about outside conduct is in custody.
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
the side that brought the case argues that isolation for outside conduct creates a custodial environment.
the opposing side argues that normal prison conditions do not negate interview voluntariness.
Justice Sotomayor questioned the application of the all-circumstances test to custody.
Justice Kagan asked if the test excludes normal prison living circumstances.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-47
- 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 17-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-45
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case asks if Miranda warnings apply to isolated prison interviews about external crimes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-43
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 4, 2011.
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
the side that brought the case seeks a rule that isolated prison interviews about outside conduct require Miranda warnings.
the opposing side seeks a rule that normal prison conditions do not automatically trigger Miranda warnings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-43
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues that isolation for outside conduct creates a custodial environment requiring warnings.
the opposing side argues that standard prison conditions do not negate the voluntariness of the interview.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-43
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if the all-circumstances test applies to voluntariness or custody.
Justice Kagan asked if the test excludes normal prison living circumstances.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-45
Why it matters
This case defines when prisoners must receive Miranda warnings during isolated interviews.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-43
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 11, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-47
- 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 17-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-45
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 16, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-43
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.