{"argument_date":"2004-12-01T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2004-12-01T00:00:00Z","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/2004/03-8661.pdf","paragraphs":["Smith's lawyer argued the judge found Smith not guilty. He claimed this gave Smith final protection. He said the judge's later change violated double jeopardy.","Massachusetts's lawyer argued the trial court could correct its error. She said the prosecution needs a fair chance to prove its case.","Justice Breyer questioned the timing of the acquittal. He asked when it becomes final for double jeopardy purposes.","Justice Kennedy asked why a state court cannot act like a statute does. He questioned the difference between legislative and judicial action."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 29-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 29-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 43-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 47-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 7-9"}]}],"caption":"Smith v. Massachusetts","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.819162Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Smith argues a judge cannot undo an acquittal. Massachusetts argues a judge can correct errors before the trial concludes.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 29-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 29-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 47-9"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2004-12-01T00:00:00Z","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/03-8661.html","primary_docket":"03-8661","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T22:15:49.721774Z","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 case tests whether a trial judge can reverse an acquittal before the trial ends. Smith claims this violates double jeopardy. Massachusetts claims the judge can correct errors before the trial concludes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 29-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 29-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 47-9"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 1, 2004."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Smith wants the conviction overturned. He argues the judge cannot undo an acquittal.","Massachusetts wants the conviction to stand. It argues the judge can correct errors before the trial ends."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 29-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 29-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 47-9"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Smith argues an acquittal ends the case. He claims the judge cannot reverse that finding later.","Massachusetts argues the trial was not over. It claims the judge can correct errors before the trial concludes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 29-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 29-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 47-9"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Breyer asked when an acquittal counts for double jeopardy purposes.","Justice Kennedy asked why a state court cannot act like a statute does."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 43-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 7-9"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines when a judge can change a verdict. It affects how states handle trial errors. It shapes the finality of criminal judgments."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 29-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 29-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 47-9"}]},{"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 43-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 43-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 7-9"}]}],"slug":"2004-03-8661-smith-v-massachusetts","term":"2004","title":"Can a judge reverse an acquittal before the trial ends?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 29-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 29-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-8661.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 47-9"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}