October Term 2023 · Docket 22-1025
Does probable cause bar all retaliatory arrest claims?
The dispute centers on whether probable cause always defeats a claim that police arrested someone for retaliation.
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. Bidwell argued the opposing side over-reads Nieves. She said the rule targets in-the-field law enforcement. She claimed extending it to all officials is wrong.
Ms. Reaves argued the question is narrow. She said it asks what evidence satisfies the Nieves exception. She emphasized the specific context of the case.
Ms. Blatt argued probable cause has historically foreclosed these suits. She said Nieves created a narrow exception for warrantless arrests. She urged the Court not to expand that exception.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 51-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 51-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 21-9 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 21-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 15-33
- 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 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 43-23 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 43-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 53-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 95, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 95, lines 27-23
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of a legal rule from Nieves v. Bartlett. That rule allows probable cause to defeat retaliatory arrest claims. The parties disagree on how broadly that rule applies.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 95, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 95, lines 27-23
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 20, 2024.
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 66, lines 43-23 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 43-23
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to limit the Nieves rule to on-the-spot arrests.
the opposing side wants the Court to apply the Nieves rule to all government officials.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 95, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 95, lines 27-23
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the Nieves rule only covers split-second field arrests.
the opposing side argues the Nieves rule insulates all government officials from these claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 95, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 95, lines 27-23
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if causal complexity concerns courts generally or only on-the-spot arrests.
Justice Sotomayor asked if probable cause can break causation as a matter of law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 51-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 51-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 21-9 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 21-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 43-23 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 43-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 53-19
Why it matters
This case defines when citizens can sue for retaliatory arrests. It determines the scope of probable cause as a defense. It shapes police accountability in retaliation cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 95, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 95, lines 27-23
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 12, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 51-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 51-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 21-9 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 21-9
- 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 11-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 43-23 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 43-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 53-19
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 34, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 95, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 95, lines 27-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 95, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 95, lines 27-23
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.