{"argument_date":"2004-11-10T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2004-11-10T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Cortina argued the Ninth Circuit violated federal law by reversing the state court.","Mr. Gits argued the state court correctly identified exclusive jury considerations.","Justice Souter questioned the basis for claiming no reasonable likelihood of error.","Justice Kennedy questioned whether the trial court failed to correct the prosecutor."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 23-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 1-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 1-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 45-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-15"}]}],"caption":"Brown v. Payton","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:30.016563Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a prosecutor’s statements about the law confused the jury during a death penalty trial.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-5"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2004-11-10T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/03-1039.html","primary_docket":"03-1039","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T22:17:55.341573Z","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":["This case involves a 1982 death sentence. the side that brought the case argues the trial court failed to correct the prosecutor. the opposing side argues the jury understood the legal limits."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-5"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 10, 2004."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the state court’s death sentence restored.","the opposing side wants the federal court’s reversal to stand."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-5"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the Ninth Circuit misapplied federal review standards.","the opposing side argues the state court correctly applied exclusive legal factors."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-5"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Souter asked why a reasonable likelihood of jury mistake does not exist.","Justice Kennedy asked if the trial court erred by not giving a curative instruction."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 23-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 1-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 1-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 45-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-15"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines how federal courts review state death penalty trials. It clarifies when prosecutor statements about the law require judicial correction. The outcome affects the finality of state criminal judgments."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-5"}]},{"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 10, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 23-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 1-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 1-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 45-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-15"}]}],"slug":"2004-03-1039-brown-v-payton","term":"2004","title":"Did the prosecutor mislead the jury about legal limits on evidence?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1039.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-5"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}