October Term 2012 · Docket 11-770
Can police detain a suspect found outside a home during a search?
The dispute centers on whether officers may stop a person located on the sidewalk while executing a warrant inside a residence.
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
the side that brought the case claims the Summers exception is categorical but limited to the scene.
Government contends officer safety is undermined if police must stop people inside first.
Justice Kagan asked if awareness of the police presence changes the analysis.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
- 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 3-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-19
- 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 37-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-1
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of the Summers rule. the side that brought the case argues the rule only covers people inside the home. The government argues it covers nearby areas to protect officers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-27
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 1, 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 55, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 21-21
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the detention ruled unlawful.
Government wants the detention ruled lawful.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-27
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the rule requires probable cause for stops outside the home.
Government argues officer safety justifies stops in the immediate vicinity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-27
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked about the lack of immediate threat to officers.
Justice Scalia asked if the suspect was on the sidewalk rather than the premises.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-19
- 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 37-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-1
Why it matters
This defines the boundary of police power during warrant executions. It balances individual liberty against officer safety. The outcome shapes future encounters near homes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-27
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 10, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-47
- 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 3-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-19
- 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 37-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-1
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 28, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-27
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.