October Term 2012 · Docket 11-1425
Can police draw blood from a drunk driver without a warrant?
The dispute centers on whether officers may force a blood draw from a suspect without a warrant.
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. Shapiro argued the state should not force needles on all suspects.
Ms. Saharsky argued officers face certain destruction of critical blood evidence.
Mr. Koester stated quickly securing blood alcohol evidence is incredibly important.
Justice Kennedy questioned if other states' rules are relevant to reasonableness.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 43-19 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 43-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-21 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 39-15 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 39-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-33
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the Fourth Amendment limits on warrantless blood draws.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 43-19 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 43-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-21 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 39-15 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 39-15
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 9, 2013.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-31
What each side wants
Missouri wants the Court to allow warrantless blood draws.
McNeely wants the Court to require a warrant for blood draws.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 43-19 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 43-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-21 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 39-15 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 39-15
What each side says
Missouri argues blood evidence disappears quickly, making a warrant unreasonable.
McNeely argues the Fourth Amendment requires a warrant for bodily intrusion.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 43-19 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 43-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-21 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 39-15 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 39-15
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked what constitutional right supports state evidence collection.
Justice Scalia asked why officers did not use a breathalyzer instead.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-33
Why it matters
This case defines police power to collect bodily evidence without judicial approval.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 43-19 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 43-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-21 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 39-15 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 39-15
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 33-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-33
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 15, lines 43-19 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 43-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-21 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 39-15 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 39-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 43-19 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 43-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-21 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 39-15 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 39-15
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.