{"argument_date":"2006-02-27T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2006-02-27T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2005","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case's counsel argued the state waived the deadline defense by not raising it.","the opposing side's counsel argued the judge's action was consistent with habeas rules.","the opposing side's counsel stated the case is not about the state's waiver.","Justice Ginsburg questioned whether the lower court opinion mandated the dismissal or allowed it."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 45-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 47, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 21-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 13-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 13-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-9"}]}],"caption":"Day v. McDonough","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.763142Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.786558Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a federal judge can independently dismiss a prisoner's petition for release if the state failed to raise the deadline defense.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 45-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 47, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 21-11"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2006-02-27T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2005","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/04-1324.html","primary_docket":"04-1324","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T22:03:52.639577Z","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 involves a prisoner seeking release from state custody. The state argued the petition arrived too late. The lower court dismissed the petition without the state formally raising the deadline issue. The prisoner argues the state gave up this defense by not raising it earlier."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 45-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 47, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 21-11"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 27, 2006."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 13-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 13-54"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the dismissal overturned because the state waived the deadline defense.","the opposing side wants the dismissal to stand because the petition was filed late."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 45-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 47, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 21-11"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the state gave up the deadline defense by not raising it early.","the opposing side argues the judge can independently dismiss late petitions to protect the system."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 45-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 47, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 21-11"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked if the lower court opinion used the word must or could.","Justice Kennedy asked if the district court has discretion to refer the case to the state."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 13-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 13-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-9"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the power of federal judges to enforce filing deadlines. It affects how states defend against late petitions. It shapes the balance between finality and access to courts."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 45-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 47, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 21-11"}]},{"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 10, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, 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/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 13-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 13-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-9"}]}],"slug":"2005-04-1324-day-v-mcdonough","term":"2005","title":"Can a federal judge dismiss a late habeas petition on their own?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 45-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 47, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-1324.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 21-11"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}