October Term 2013 · Docket 13-132
Can police search a phone without a warrant?
The dispute centers on whether officers may search a phone found on an arrestee 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. Fisher argued the Fourth Amendment applies here.
Justice Kennedy asked about gathering evidence from a gun.
Justice Alito compared phone photos to billfold photos.
Mr. Dreeben explained the categorical Robinson rule.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-19 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-5
- 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 17-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 33-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-21
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the Fourth Amendment. It applies to a new factual circumstance. The core protection faces a digital device.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-19 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 33-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 21-31
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 29, 2014.
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 60, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 33-35
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants a warrant requirement for phones.
The state wants to search phones without a warrant.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-19 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 33-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 21-31
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues phones hold vast private data.
The state argues phones are like physical objects.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-19 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 33-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 21-31
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked about taking gun fingerprints.
Justice Alito asked about photos in a billfold.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-5
- 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 17-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-21
Why it matters
This defines privacy rights in the digital age. It sets rules for police searches. It protects personal data from state access.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-19 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 33-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 21-31
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 43-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-5
- 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 17-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-21
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 25-29 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-19 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 33-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-19 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 33-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 21-31
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.