October Term 2023 · Docket 23-50
Does a valid charge block a Fourth Amendment malicious prosecution claim?
the sides that brought the case seek to sue for malicious prosecution despite a valid charge. the opposing sides argue the valid charge defeats the claim.
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. Wold argued probable cause supported the detention.
Ms. Anand stated the charge-specific rule governs the claim.
Mr. Suri noted the main disagreement concerns the scope of the opinion.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-51
- 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 48, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 19-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-27
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of Fourth Amendment malicious prosecution claims. The dispute centers on whether a single valid charge bars a lawsuit. the sides that brought the case want to sue despite a valid charge. the opposing sides want the valid charge to block the suit.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 19-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 55-29
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 15, 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 68, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-27
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want to sue for malicious prosecution despite a valid charge.
the opposing sides want the valid charge to block the malicious prosecution claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 19-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 55-29
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the charge-specific rule governs the lack of probable cause element.
the opposing sides argue probable cause supported the detention and bars the claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 19-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 55-29
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked why a money-laundering charge matters if murder has probable cause.
Justice Alito questioned the logic of the Solicitor General's position on seizure elements.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-27
Why it matters
This dispute defines the limits of civil rights lawsuits. It determines when valid charges block malicious prosecution claims. The outcome shapes police accountability standards nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 19-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 55-29
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 49-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 23-35
- 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 11-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-27
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 39, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 19-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 19-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 55-29
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.