October Term 2019 · Docket 18-556
Can police assume a suspended owner drives their car?
Kansas and the driver dispute whether a suspended license justifies a traffic stop.
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
Mr. Crouse argued reasonable suspicion allows brief investigations.
He stated common sense judgments guide reasonable suspicion standards.
Ms. Harrington argued Kansas seeks a bright-line nationwide rule.
She claimed the rule presumes unlicensed owners drive their cars.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 36-44 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 36-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 22-34 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 22-50 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 22-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-38 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-6 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 52-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 46-6 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 46-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 14-20 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 14-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 34-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 28-46 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 28-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 50-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 32-36 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 32-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 54-6 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 54-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 32-32 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 32-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 24-42 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 24-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 32-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 32-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 18-1
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Kansas argues a suspended license creates reasonable suspicion. The driver argues this assumption lacks factual support.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 22-50 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 22-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 14-20 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 14-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 24-42 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 24-42
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 4, 2019.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 28-46 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 28-46
What each side wants
Kansas wants a rule that suspended owners are presumed drivers.
The driver wants the Court to reject that automatic presumption.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 22-50 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 22-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 14-20 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 14-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 24-42 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 24-42
What each side says
Kansas claims common sense supports the inference of reasonable suspicion.
The driver claims the record lacks facts to support the inference.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 22-50 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 22-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 14-20 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 14-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 24-42 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 24-42
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if suspension causes relate to driving safety.
Justice Gorsuch asked if judges can infer facts not in the record.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 36-44 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 36-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 22-34 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-38 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-6 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 52-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 46-6 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 46-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 34-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 28-46 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 28-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 50-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 32-36 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 32-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 54-6 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 54-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 32-32 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 32-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 32-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 32-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 18-1
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of police authority during traffic stops. It balances public safety against individual privacy rights. The outcome shapes future interactions between citizens and law enforcement.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 22-50 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 22-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 14-20 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 14-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 24-42 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 24-42
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 11, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 36-44 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 36-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 22-34 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-38 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-6 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 52-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 46-6 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 46-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 34-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 28-46 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 28-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 50-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 32-36 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 32-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 54-6 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 54-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 32-32 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 32-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 32-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 32-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 18-1
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 22-50 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 22-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 14-20 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 14-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 24-42 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 24-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 22-50 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 22-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 14-20 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 14-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 24-42 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 24-42
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.