October Term 2018 · Docket 18-485
Does a Section 1983 claim for fabricated evidence require a favorable termination?
The dispute centers on whether a plaintiff must prove the criminal case ended in their favor to sue a prosecutor for fabricating evidence.
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. Katyal stated the claim targets fabricated evidence.
Mr. Katyal noted malicious prosecution is the closest analogy.
Mr. Wall argued favorable termination is an element.
Mr. O'Connor distinguished pure from impure malicious prosecution.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 26-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 26-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-20 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 34-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 28-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 10-6 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 10-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 12-23 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 12-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-36 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 6-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 30-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 30-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-26 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 6-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 6-18
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of federal civil rights liability for prosecutors.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 10-6 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 10-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 12-23 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 12-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-31
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 17, 2019.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-15
What each side wants
the side that brought the case seeks to sue without proving the case ended favorably.
the opposing side seeks to require proof of a favorable termination.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 10-6 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 10-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 12-23 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 12-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-31
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the claim targets the initiation of proceedings.
the opposing side argues the claim requires a favorable termination.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 10-6 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 10-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 12-23 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 12-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-31
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked how this claim differs from a dismissed malicious prosecution claim.
Justice Sotomayor asked if the claim requires a finding of probable cause.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 26-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 26-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-20 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 34-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 28-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-36 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 6-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 30-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 30-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-26 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 6-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 6-18
Why it matters
This defines the boundary of prosecutorial immunity in federal courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 10-6 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 10-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 12-23 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 12-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-31
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 26-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 26-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-20 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 34-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 28-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-36 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 6-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 30-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 30-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-26 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 6-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 6-18
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 24, lines 10-6 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 10-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 12-23 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 12-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 10-6 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 10-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 12-23 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 12-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-31
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.