October Term 2011 · Docket 10-8505
Can a witness describe lab results without the analyst testifying?
The dispute centers on whether a witness may relay DNA match results from a non-testifying analyst.
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
Mr. Carroll argued the testimony violated the Confrontation Clause.
Mr. Dreeben argued the testimony had two distinct components.
Justice Scalia asked if the statements were true.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-7
- 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 31-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 51-41 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 51-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-21
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Sandra Lambatos testified that the side that brought the case's DNA matched a profile. She described results generated by Cellmark analysts. No Cellmark analyst appeared at the trial. the side that brought the case argues this violates the Confrontation Clause. The state argues the testimony was permissible.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 51-41 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 51-41
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 6, 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 the conviction overturned.
The state wants the conviction upheld.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 51-41 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 51-41
What each side says
the side that brought the case claims the testimony violated the Confrontation Clause.
The state claims the testimony described facts rather than opinions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 51-41 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 51-41
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if the statements violated the Confrontation Clause.
Justice Kennedy asked if the blood test entered a state database.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-21
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of witness testimony regarding lab results. It impacts how prosecutors present forensic evidence in trials. It affects the rights of defendants to confront witnesses.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 51-41 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 51-41
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 31-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-21
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 5-7 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 51-41 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 51-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 51-41 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 51-41
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.