{"argument_date":"2003-03-24T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2003-03-24T00:00:00Z","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/2002/02-311.pdf","paragraphs":["Verrilli argued Strickland requires thorough investigation or judgment.","Himmelfarb argued the Sixth Amendment imposed no such duty.","Bair corrected the factual record regarding post-conviction comments.","Himmelfarb noted trial counsel obtained social services records."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 17-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-60","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-60"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 33-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 33-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 41-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 41-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 21-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 21-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 39-43"}]}],"caption":"Wiggins v. Smith","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:31.207176Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:31.230970Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Wiggins claims his lawyer ignored his abusive past. The state says no duty existed to dig deeper.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 17-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-60","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-60"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 33-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 33-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 41-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 41-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 21-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 21-5"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2003-03-24T00:00:00Z","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/02-311.html","primary_docket":"02-311","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T16:24:53.149065Z","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":["Wiggins argues his lawyer ignored his abusive past. The state says no duty existed to dig deeper."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 17-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-60","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-60"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 33-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 33-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 41-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 41-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 21-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 21-5"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 24, 2003."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 39-43"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Wiggins seeks a new trial based on ineffective counsel.","The state seeks to keep the death sentence intact."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 17-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-60","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-60"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 33-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 33-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 41-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 41-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 21-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 21-5"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Wiggins argues counsel must investigate or justify limits.","The state argues no duty required background evidence."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 17-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-60","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-60"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 33-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 33-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 41-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 41-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 21-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 21-5"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Rehnquist asked if the case was submitted."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 39-43"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines lawyer duties in death penalty trials. It shapes how courts judge legal preparation. It impacts future capital sentencing standards."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 17-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-60","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-60"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 33-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 33-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 41-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 41-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 21-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 21-5"}]},{"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/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 39-43"}]}],"slug":"2002-02-311-wiggins-v-smith","term":"2002","title":"Did counsel fail to investigate Wiggins' background?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 17-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-60","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-60"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 33-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 33-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 41-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 41-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 21-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-311.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 21-5"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}