{"argument_date":"2002-11-05T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2002-11-05T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2002","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1127.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Danzig argued the Ninth Circuit erred in applying habeas review principles.","Mr. Chemerinsky argued the sentence violates established Eighth Amendment limits.","Chief Justice Rehnquist called the case and noted it was submitted."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 11-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1127.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 11-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1127.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1127.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1127.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 27-31"}]}],"caption":"Lockyer v. Andrade","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:31.872842Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"California seeks to uphold a 15-year prison term for minor theft. The defendant argues this punishment is grossly disproportionate.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 11-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1127.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 11-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1127.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-17"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2002-11-05T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2002","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/01-1127.html","primary_docket":"01-1127","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T16:44:24.379825Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["The dispute centers on whether a specific prison sentence violates constitutional limits on punishment."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 11-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1127.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 11-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1127.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-17"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 5, 2002."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1127.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The state wants the Supreme Court to reverse the Ninth Circuit decision.","The defendant wants the Supreme Court to uphold the Ninth Circuit decision."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 11-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1127.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 11-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1127.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The state argues the Ninth Circuit failed to properly apply habeas review principles.","The defendant argues the sentence violates a century of Eighth Amendment precedent."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 11-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1127.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 11-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1127.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-17"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Rehnquist noted the case was submitted at 12:10 p.m."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1127.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 27-31"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the constitutional boundary for prison sentences in minor theft cases. It determines whether states can impose lengthy terms for small crimes. The outcome shapes future sentencing standards nationwide."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 11-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1127.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 11-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1127.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-17"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1127.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1127.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 27-31"}]}],"slug":"2002-01-1127-lockyer-v-andrade","term":"2002","title":"Does a 15-year sentence for petty theft violate the Eighth Amendment?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 11-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1127.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 11-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1127.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-17"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}