October Term 2011 · Docket 10-788
Do false grand jury witnesses get absolute immunity?
The case tests whether a witness who files a false affidavit to start a prosecution receives absolute or qualified immunity.
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
Andrew Pincus argued that prior cases limit immunity for false affidavits.
the opposing side argued that all grand jury witnesses deserve absolute protection.
justice_questions
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-9
- 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 17-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-35
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This dispute centers on the scope of witness immunity in federal civil rights lawsuits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 1, 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 wants qualified immunity for false grand jury witnesses.
the opposing side wants absolute immunity for all grand jury witnesses.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues that false affidavits should not receive absolute protection.
the opposing side argues that all grand jury witnesses deserve absolute immunity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if complaining witnesses exist in federal grand juries.
Justice Ginsburg questioned the definition of the witness who motivated the charge.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-35
Why it matters
This case defines the legal shield for witnesses who provide false evidence to prosecutors.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
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 51-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-9
- 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 17-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-35
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 27, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
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.