October Term 2012 · Docket 12-246
Can prosecutors use a suspect's silence against them at trial?
Texas prosecutors used a suspect's silence during a police interview as evidence of guilt. The suspect argues this violates the Fifth Amendment.
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
Jeffrey Fisher argued the Fifth Amendment prohibits using silence against a suspect.
He stated that specific facts do not justify an exception to this rule.
Justice Breyer asked where the line lies between silence and invocation.
Justice Ginsburg cited a case where silence was not an invocation.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-29
- 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 31-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 25-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-33 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-3
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether the Fifth Amendment protects silence during noncustodial police interviews. The Court must decide if prosecutors may comment on a suspect's refusal to answer questions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 25-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-33 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-33
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 17, 2013.
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 57, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 43-15
What each side wants
Texas wants the Court to allow prosecutors to use a suspect's silence as evidence of guilt.
The suspect wants the Court to ban prosecutors from using silence as evidence against him.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 25-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-33 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-33
What each side says
Texas argues silence during a voluntary interview is not protected by the Fifth Amendment.
The suspect argues the Fifth Amendment prohibits using his silence against him at trial.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 25-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-33 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-33
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if silence during witness examination counts as a waiver.
Justice Sotomayor asked if this rule gives noncustodial defendants more rights than those in custody.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-3
Why it matters
This dispute defines the scope of Fifth Amendment protections. It determines whether silence during police questioning remains a shield or becomes evidence of guilt.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 25-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-33 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-33
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 25-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-7
- 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 31-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-3
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 29, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 25-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-33 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 25-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-33 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-33
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.