{"argument_date":"2005-04-18T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2005-04-18T00:00:00Z","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/2004/04-6964.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Bedrick argued the state must disclose reasons for strikes.","Mr. Schalit argued the challenger must prove a prima facie case.","Justice Kennedy questioned the rigor of the proposed standard.","Justice O'Connor asked if the standard relies on Title VII cases."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 21-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 21-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.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/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-7"}]}],"caption":"Johnson v. California","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.338538Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on who bears the burden of proof when a juror challenges a strike as racially motivated.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 21-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 21-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-11"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2005-04-18T00:00:00Z","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/04-6964.html","primary_docket":"04-6964","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T14:35:27.260037Z","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 proving racial discrimination in jury selection. the side that brought the case argues the state must explain its strikes. The state argues the challenger must prove bias first."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 21-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 21-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-11"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 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/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the state to explain its jury strikes.","The state wants the challenger to prove racial bias first."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 21-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 21-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-11"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the state must disclose reasons for strikes.","The state argues the challenger must prove a prima facie case."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 21-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 21-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-11"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Kennedy asked if a lack of answer presumes the challenge is correct.","Justice Scalia asked what happens if the state does not provide an answer."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-7"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the legal standard for detecting racial bias in jury selection. It determines how courts evaluate claims of discriminatory strikes. The outcome shapes the fairness of criminal trials nationwide."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 21-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 21-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-11"}]},{"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/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-7"}]}],"slug":"2004-04-6964-johnson-v-california","term":"2004","title":"Who must prove racial bias in jury selection?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 21-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 21-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-6964.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-11"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}