{"argument_date":"2004-10-13T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2004-10-13T00:00:00Z","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/2004/03-633.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Layton argued the Court should maintain its prior precedent.","He stated legislators should determine the minimum age for capital punishment.","Mr. Waxman argued society's evolving standards of decency now draw the line.","He contended everyone agrees some age limit exists for juvenile executions."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-47"}]}],"caption":"Roper v. Simmons","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:30.086696Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether executing a 17-year-old violates the Eighth Amendment.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-19"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2004-10-13T00:00:00Z","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/03-633.html","primary_docket":"03-633","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T15:28:53.738175Z","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 tests the constitutional limit on juvenile capital punishment."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-19"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 13, 2004."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the Court to ban executions for 17-year-olds.","the opposing side wants the Court to allow states to set their own age limits."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-19"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues society's evolving standards now prohibit this punishment.","the opposing side argues legislators must decide the precise minimum age."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-19"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked if states could adopt any definition of mental retardation.","Justice O'Connor asked if the Court must look at state approval statistics."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-47"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the constitutional floor for juvenile criminal responsibility. It determines whether states can impose the ultimate penalty on adolescents. The outcome shapes national standards for criminal sentencing. It impacts how courts treat young offenders in capital cases."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-19"}]},{"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/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-47"}]}],"slug":"2004-03-633-roper-v-simmons","term":"2004","title":"Can states execute 17-year-olds for murder?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-633.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-19"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}