October Term 2011 · Docket 10-945
May jails strip-search all arrestees without individualized suspicion?
The dispute centers on whether jails must show reasonable suspicion before strip-searching every arrestee.
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
Mr. Goldstein argued for a reasonable suspicion standard for strip searches.
Ms. Saharsky argued that blanket searches are necessary to find hidden contraband.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 25-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of Fourth Amendment protections during jail intake.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 51-5
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 12, 2011.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 15-17
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want a rule requiring reasonable suspicion before strip searches.
the opposing sides want to keep the blanket strip-search rule for all arrestees.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 51-5
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue blanket searches violate individual dignity and privacy rights.
the opposing sides argue blanket searches prevent contraband smuggling and protect staff safety.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 51-5
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if reasonable suspicion is easier to meet for serious felonies.
Justice Alito asked if arrest for violent offenses justifies a search.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 25-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-7
Why it matters
This case defines the balance between jail security and detainee dignity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 51-5
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 45-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 25-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-7
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 3, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 51-5
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.