{"argument_date":"2005-01-18T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2005-01-18T00:00:00Z","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/2004/04-5462.pdf","paragraphs":["Nolas argued counsel failed to secure any life history documents.","Lovitt argued the investigation showed records contained nothing useful.","Scalia questioned whether experts would naturally discuss childhood problems."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 5-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 15-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 41-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 41-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 29-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 29-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 29-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 41-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 18-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 1-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-57","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-57"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-35"}]}],"caption":"Rompilla v. Beard","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.745156Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.753955Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"A death row inmate claims his lawyer ignored key records. The state says the lawyer acted reasonably.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 5-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 15-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 41-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 41-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 29-27"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2005-01-18T00:00:00Z","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/04-5462.html","primary_docket":"04-5462","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T22:14:34.244176Z","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 standard for ineffective assistance of counsel in capital cases. It asks if a lawyer must dig deeper when initial records look empty."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 5-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 15-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 41-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 41-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 29-27"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 18, 2005."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 41-41"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Rompilla wants a new trial based on ineffective counsel.","Beard wants the death sentence to stand."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 5-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 15-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 41-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 41-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 29-27"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Rompilla argues his lawyer ignored available life history records.","Beard argues the lawyer's investigation was objectively reasonable."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 5-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 15-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 41-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 41-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 29-27"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice O'Connor asked about the number of relatives who testified.","Justice Scalia questioned the intent behind using expert witnesses."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 29-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 29-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 41-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 18-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 1-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-57","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-57"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-35"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute defines the duty of lawyers in death penalty cases. It sets the bar for investigating a defendant's past. The outcome shapes future capital sentencing procedures nationwide."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 5-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 15-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 41-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 41-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 29-27"}]},{"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 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 29-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 29-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 41-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 18-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 1-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-57","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-57"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-35"}]}],"slug":"2004-04-5462-rompilla-v-beard","term":"2004","title":"Did trial counsel fail to investigate a defendant's life history?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 5-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 44, lines 15-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 41-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 41-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-5462.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 29-27"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}