October Term 2018 · Docket 17-1174
Does probable cause bar retaliatory arrest claims?
Police argue probable cause defeats First Amendment retaliation suits. Bartlett argues subjective intent controls.
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 sides that brought the case cite common law rules protecting officers.
the opposing sides cite Lozman to reject absolute rules.
Justices probe the complexity of mixed-motive cases.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 25-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 55-45 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 55-45
- 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 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 55-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 55-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-29
- 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 15-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-9
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether probable cause shields officers from retaliatory arrest claims. the sides that brought the case seek a bright-line rule. the opposing sides demand subjective intent review.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 55-45 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 55-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-53
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 26, 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 68, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-7
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want probable cause to defeat retaliation claims.
the opposing sides want courts to examine officer intent.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 55-45 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 55-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-53
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue probable cause protects officers from liability.
the opposing sides argue objective rules fail to capture subjective animus.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 55-45 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 55-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-53
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked why this case differs from racial discrimination.
Justice Sotomayor questioned how absent officers could harbor animus.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 25-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 55-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 55-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-29
- 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 15-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-9
Why it matters
This dispute defines police accountability for retaliatory arrests. It balances free speech protections against law enforcement discretion. The outcome shapes future civil rights litigation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 55-45 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 55-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-53
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 29-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 25-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 55-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 55-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-29
- 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 15-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-9
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 22, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 55-45 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 55-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 55-45 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 55-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-53
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.