October Term 2021 · Docket 20-659
Does a favorable termination require proof of innocence?
the side that brought the case argues a case ends favorably when prosecution fails. the opposing side argues it requires an affirmative finding of innocence.
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
Mr. Ali argued that the Second Circuit's requirement for an affirmative finding of innocence is wrong.
Mr. Ali stated that a proceeding ends favorably when the prosecution fails to obtain a conviction.
Mr. Ellis argued that the claim is analogous to a malicious prosecution claim.
Mr. Ellis noted that common law purposes include avoiding inconsistent criminal and civil judgments.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-43
- 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 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 55-17 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 25-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 25-53 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 25-53
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the standard for ending a criminal case in a plaintiff's favor. The dispute centers on whether a civil claim requires proof of innocence or merely the failure to convict.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 25-53 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 25-53
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 12, 2021.
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 79, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 25-9
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to accept that a failed prosecution satisfies the favorable termination element.
the opposing side wants the Court to require an affirmative finding of innocence to satisfy the element.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 25-53 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 25-53
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues that the failure to obtain a conviction ends the proceeding in the accused's favor.
the opposing side argues that the proceeding must affirmatively indicate the accused is innocent to terminate favorably.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 25-53 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 25-53
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked whether a Fourth Amendment seizure supports a malicious prosecution claim.
Justice Alito asked why a termination element applies to an unreasonable seizure claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 55-17 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 25-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-35
Why it matters
The standard determines when a civil claim can proceed after criminal charges end. A lower standard allows more suits to move forward. A higher standard blocks suits unless innocence is explicitly found.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 25-53 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 25-53
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 53-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-43
- 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 33-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 55-17 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 25-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-35
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 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 25-53 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 25-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 25-53 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 25-53
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.