October Term 2012 · Docket 11-564
Does a drug dog sniff at a front door violate the Fourth Amendment?
Florida argues the sniff is not a search. Jardines claims it is a search requiring 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
Florida's lawyer said the dog sniff is unique.
Jardines' lawyer said the officer's approach was lawful.
Florida's lawyer said the team stayed for five to ten minutes.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-5 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 37-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-21 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 37-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-43
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether police may use a drug dog at a home entrance without a warrant.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-5 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 37-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 19-49
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 31, 2012.
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 62, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 37-47
What each side wants
Florida wants the Court to rule the sniff is not a search.
Jardines wants the Court to rule the sniff is a search.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-5 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 37-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 19-49
What each side says
Florida argues the dog reveals only contraband, not private details.
Jardines argues the dog invades the home's protected area.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-5 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 37-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 19-49
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if implied consent covers a drug dog.
Justice Scalia asked if binoculars and dogs are legally similar.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-21 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 37-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-43
Why it matters
The outcome defines police power at home entrances. It sets limits on warrantless drug detection. It protects privacy in residential spaces.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-5 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 37-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 19-49
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 39-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 39-9
- 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 25-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-21 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 37-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-43
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 20, lines 37-5 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 37-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-5 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 37-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 19-49
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.