October Term 2014 · Docket 13-1412
Does the ADA require police to accommodate armed, violent suspects with disabilities?
San Francisco police officers shot a woman with a disability during an arrest. Her family claims the city violated federal disability rights laws.
Verified source milestones
- — 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
Ms. Van Aken argued the ADA grants important rights during police interactions.
Mr. Gershengorn stated the ADA provides rights in interactions with police.
Mr. Feldman claimed the dispute is factual, not legal.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 33-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 33-29
- 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 45-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-23
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether federal disability law limits how police handle armed suspects.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-23
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 23, 2015.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
San Francisco wants the court to reject the family's disability claim.
The family wants the court to uphold the lower court's ruling against the city.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-23
What each side says
San Francisco argues the ADA does not require accommodations for armed, violent suspects.
The family argues the ADA prohibits discrimination against disabled individuals during police interactions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-23
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if the petition claimed Title II requires accommodations for armed suspects.
Justice Alito asked if the statute defines discrimination in this specific context.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 33-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 33-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-23
Why it matters
This case defines police duties toward disabled suspects. It shapes how officers handle armed individuals with disabilities. It balances public safety with disability rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-23
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 13-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 33-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 33-29
- 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 45-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-23
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 19, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-23
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.