On May 22, Chief U.S. District Judge Norma Holloway Johnson ruled that since the Secret Service employees are part of the federal law enforcement establishment sworn to assist in criminal investigations, they must testify. The Secret Service appealed her decision and the case eventually made its way to the Supreme Court where the Secret Service lost in a split decision. Scores of Secret Service agents then testified before Starr's Independent Counsel.
In a landmark decision, Judge Norma Holloway Johnson ruled that Secret Service employees must testify due to their role within the federal law enforcement system, which is dedicated to aiding in criminal investigations. The Secret Service subsequently appealed, and the case ultimately reached the Supreme Court, where they lost in a split vote. As a result, numerous Secret Service agents were called to testify before Starr's Independent Counsel.