October Term 2017 · Docket 17-21
Does probable cause shield retaliatory arrests from First Amendment claims?
the side that brought the case argues probable cause does not bar First Amendment retaliation claims. The city argues probable cause defeats such claims.
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
Ms. Karlan argued the First Amendment bars retaliatory arrests.
She stated this applies even with probable cause.
Mr. Dvoretzky proposed four backstops for police officers.
He addressed hypotheticals about officers dealing with riots.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 25-11 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 25-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-53
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether probable cause blocks First Amendment retaliation claims. the side that brought the case seeks a constitutional remedy for a retaliatory arrest. The city seeks dismissal based on probable cause.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 25-11 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 25-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 35-1
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 27, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-9
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants a First Amendment remedy for a retaliatory arrest.
The city wants dismissal of the claim based on probable cause.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 25-11 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 25-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 35-1
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues probable cause does not bar First Amendment retaliation claims.
The city argues probable cause defeats First Amendment retaliation claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 25-11 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 25-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 35-1
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked which legal route the Court should take.
Justice Kennedy expressed concern about police officers in difficult situations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-53
Why it matters
This dispute defines the scope of First Amendment protections. It determines whether probable cause shields retaliatory arrests. The outcome affects citizens and law enforcement agencies nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 25-11 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 25-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 35-1
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 13-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-53
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 30, lines 25-11 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 25-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 25-11 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 25-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 35-1
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.