{"argument_date":"2005-04-19T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2005-04-19T00:00:00Z","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/2004/04-637.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Cole stated the evidence proves Stumpf's guilt.","Mr. Cole noted the lower court freed him on habeas review.","Mr. Freedman described the arguments made in the first trial.","Justice Souter questioned the link between the plea and the sentence."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 29-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-31"}]}],"caption":"Bradshaw v. Stumpf","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.345997Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"A state prosecutor argues a judge's error did not break the plea. The defendant argues the error forced a wrongful sentence.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 29-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-33"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2005-04-19T00:00:00Z","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/04-637.html","primary_docket":"04-637","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T22:11:22.338038Z","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":["John Stumpf pleaded guilty to aggravated murder. A lower court freed him on habeas review. The state says the plea remained valid despite the judge's error."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 29-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-33"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 19, 2005."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The state wants to keep the guilty plea and sentence intact.","The defendant wants the lower court's release order to stand."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 29-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-33"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The state argues the plea was voluntary despite the judge's error.","The defendant argues the judge's error tainted the sentencing process."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 29-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-33"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Souter asked if the prosecutor identified Stumpf as the triggerman.","Justice O'Connor asked if sentencers relied on the judge's belief."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-31"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines when a judge's mistake invalidates a guilty plea. It sets the standard for reviewing plea agreements. It protects the finality of criminal convictions."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 29-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-33"}]},{"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 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-31"}]}],"slug":"2004-04-637-bradshaw-v-stumpf","term":"2004","title":"Did a judge's mistaken belief about the killer violate a guilty plea?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 29-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-637.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-33"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}