October Term 2020 · Docket 19-292
Does a police bullet that misses a fleeing driver count as a seizure?
Roxanne Torres claims officers violated her rights by shooting at her car. The officers argue no seizure occurred because they never stopped her.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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. Corkran argued that officers fired thirteen shots at Torres while she fled.
Mr. Standridge argued that a seizure requires physical control over a suspect.
Justice Thomas asked if hitting someone with a rock counts as a seizure.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 24-38
- 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 50-52 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 50-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 6-14 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 6-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 16-18
- 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 22-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 26-50 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 26-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 40-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 40-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 54-6 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 54-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 10-28 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 10-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 46-46 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 46-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 20-36 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 20-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 50-26 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 50-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-46 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 16-22 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 16-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 38-8 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 38-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 6-30 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 6-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 50-44 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 50-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-54 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 46-54
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the definition of a Fourth Amendment seizure. Torres argues a physical impact constitutes a seizure. The officers argue only physical control counts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 26-50 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 26-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 10-28 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 10-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 50-44 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 50-44
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 14, 2020.
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 69, lines 50-26 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 50-26
What each side wants
Torres wants the Court to rule that a physical impact from a police bullet constitutes a seizure.
The officers want the Court to rule that a seizure requires physical control over the person.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 26-50 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 26-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 10-28 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 10-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 50-44 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 50-44
What each side says
Torres argues that any physical contact from a police action creates a seizure under the Fourth Amendment.
The officers argue that a seizure requires the police to acquire physical possession or control over the suspect.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 26-50 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 26-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 10-28 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 10-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 50-44 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 50-44
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if ordinary speech describes a sniper shooting a person as a seizure.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if shooting out tires that allow driving counts as a seizure.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 24-38
- 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 50-52 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 50-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 6-14 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 6-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 40-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 40-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 54-6 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 54-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 46-46 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 46-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 20-36 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 20-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 50-26 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 50-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-46 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 16-22 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 16-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 38-8 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 38-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 6-30 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 6-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-54 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 46-54
Why it matters
This case defines when police force triggers constitutional protections. It determines if a missed shot creates legal liability. It shapes the scope of Fourth Amendment rights during high-speed chases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 26-50 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 26-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 10-28 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 10-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 50-44 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 50-44
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 24-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 24-38
- 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 50-52 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 50-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 6-14 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 6-14
- 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 22-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 40-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 40-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 54-6 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 54-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 46-46 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 46-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 20-36 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 20-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 50-26 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 50-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-46 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 16-22 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 16-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 38-8 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 38-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 6-30 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 6-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-54 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 46-54
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 26-50 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 26-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 10-28 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 10-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 50-44 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 50-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 26-50 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 26-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 10-28 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 10-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 50-44 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 50-44
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.