October Term 2016 · Docket 14-9496
Does the Fourth Amendment cover detention after a judge approves an arrest?
The dispute centers on whether a person can sue for unlawful detention that continues after a judge approves the arrest.
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
Mr. Eisenhammer argued the case concerns whether a the side that brought the case may bring a Fourth Amendment claim for unlawful detention under legal process.
Ms. Eisenstein argued the Court should locate the constitutional right in the Fourth Amendment because it applies to pretrial detentions.
Mr. Scodro argued it is important to frame what is before the Court this afternoon.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 4-34 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 4-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 52-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 32-52 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 32-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-44 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 22-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 52-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 52-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 40-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 22-34 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-28 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 42-50
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case asks if the Fourth Amendment protects people from unreasonable seizure after legal process begins. the side that brought the case argues this protection continues until the detention ends. The city argues the protection stops once a judge approves the arrest.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 4-34 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 4-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-50
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 5, 2016.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants a court to recognize his right to sue for unlawful detention after a judge approves the arrest.
The city wants a court to deny his right to sue for detention that follows a judge's approval.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 4-34 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 4-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-50
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the Fourth Amendment applies to pretrial detentions and covers the time after legal process begins.
The city argues the Fourth Amendment claim ends when legal process begins, such as when a judge approves the arrest.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 4-34 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 4-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-50
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the Fourth Amendment claim exists regardless of the specific legal theory.
Justice Kennedy asked about a scenario where fabricated evidence leads to a long detention after a hearing.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 52-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 32-52 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 32-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-44 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 22-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 52-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 52-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 40-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 22-34 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-28 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 42-50
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of constitutional protection against unreasonable government seizure. It determines when a person can seek legal redress for unlawful detention. The outcome shapes the balance between individual liberty and government authority in pretrial proceedings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 4-34 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 4-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-50
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 52-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 52-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 32-52 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 32-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-44 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 22-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 52-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 52-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 40-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 22-34 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-28 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 42-50
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 4-34 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 4-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 4-34 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 4-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-50
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.