October Term 2025 · Docket 24-624
Can Police Enter a Home Without a Warrant to Stop a Suicide?
The Supreme Court is weighing whether officers need probable cause of a life-threatening emergency before entering a home without a warrant. After police entered Trevor Case's house in Montana and shot him.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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
Chief Justice Roberts opened the argument and heard from Fred A. Rowley Jr. for Case. Rowley argued the Court has never allowed home entries without a warrant or probable cause. He said Montana's proposed standard is vague and open-ended. He argued a probable cause standard fits existing Fourth Amendment rules, citing Payton.
The case was submitted after argument.
The Court heard argument on the dispute but has not decided it.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-19
- 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 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 47-35 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 47-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 47-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 47-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 49-23 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 49-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-11
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This article describes an oral argument stage of the case. Justices' questions do not indicate votes or a final decision.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 47-35 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 47-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 47-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 47-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 15-7
How the case got here
Police entered Trevor Case's home without permission, a warrant, or probable cause, and shot him inside. Case argues the Fourth Amendment bars home entries without probable cause that an occupant is seriously injured or imminently threatened. Montana defends the emergency aid exception, which allows entry when officers have an objectively reasonable basis to believe someone inside needs aid.
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 87, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 9-13
What each side wants
Case wants the Court to require probable cause of a danger before any warrantless emergency home entry.
Montana wants the Court to keep the objective reasonableness standard from Brigham City v. Stuart, which does not require probable cause of a danger.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 47-35 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 47-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 47-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 47-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 15-7
What each side says
Case says the home's sanctity is the core of the Fourth Amendment and that a lower standard invites abuse, letting police back into criminal investigations without a warrant.
Montana says the Fourth Amendment's text ties probable cause to warrants, not searches. And That a probable cause rule would delay officers from saving lives in crises like domestic violence or falls.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 47-35 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 47-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 47-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 47-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 15-7
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked why the standard should not be reasonable concern rather than probable cause, and whether officers must diagnose a medical emergency before entering.
Justice Alito asked what more officers needed than an ex-girlfriend's report of a suicide threat, a gunshot-like sound, a dead phone line, an empty holster. And An apparent suicide note visible through a window.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 49-23 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 49-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-11
Why it matters
The ruling will set the threshold police must meet before entering a home without a warrant to give emergency aid. It will shape responses to suicide threats, medical crises, and domestic violence calls nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 47-35 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 47-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 47-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 47-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 15-7
What the Court decided
Police may enter a home without a warrant if they have an objectively reasonable basis for believing someone inside needs emergency aid. The officers here had such a basis for entering Case's home to prevent him from killing himself.
The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the Montana Supreme Court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Opinion — file page 2, lines 1-1 — Opinion, file page 2, lines 1-1
- Official Supreme Court Opinion — file page 3, lines 1-1 — Opinion, file page 3, lines 1-1
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 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 47-35 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 47-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 47-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 47-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 47-35 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 47-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 47-25 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 47-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 15-7
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Removed an unsupported statement that the Court had not ruled; the available source set did not establish that absence.
- Revision 3 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Corrected unsupported no-ruling language and clarified that the article's disposition summary is incomplete.
- Revision 4 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Added the holding and disposition from the verified official Court opinion.
- Revision 5 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.