October Term 2014 · Docket 13-1175
Must hotels show guest records to police without a warrant?
The city seeks to inspect hotel logs without a warrant. The hotel company demands a judicial order first.
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 city argues inspections deter serious crimes.
The hotel company argues inspections need a warrant.
justice_sotomayor_questioned_if_the_search_purpose_is_administrative
justice_ginsburg_questioned_if_police_need_reasonable_suspicion
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-19
- 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 35-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-41 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-29
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Los Angeles requires hotels to keep guest records. Police can inspect these logs without a warrant. The hotel company argues this violates privacy rights. The city claims this tool deters crime.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-41 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-41
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 3, 2015.
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 60, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 5-15
What each side wants
The city wants to inspect hotel logs without a warrant.
The hotel company wants a judge to approve inspections first.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-41 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-41
What each side says
The city argues inspections deter trafficking and prostitution.
The hotel company argues inspections require a judicial order.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-41 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-41
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if the search purpose is administrative.
Justice Ginsburg asked if police need reasonable suspicion.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-29
Why it matters
This case defines police access to private business records. It balances public safety against individual privacy rights. The outcome shapes how cities monitor commercial spaces.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-41 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-41
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 47-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-19
- 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 35-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-29
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 18, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-41 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 5-27 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 5-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-41 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-41
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.