{"argument_date":"2006-01-11T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2006-01-11T00:00:00Z","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/2005/04-8990.pdf","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the blood evidence is inconclusive.","the opposing side argues the blood proves guilt.","questions"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 41-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 47-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 9-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 9-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-23"}]}],"caption":"House v. Bell","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.886549Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.901995Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The case tests if blood on jeans proves guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 41-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 9-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 9-43"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2006-01-11T00:00:00Z","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/04-8990.html","primary_docket":"04-8990","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T13:57:38.741958Z","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 dispute centers on whether blood on jeans proves guilt beyond a reasonable doubt."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 41-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 9-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 9-43"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 11, 2006."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 45-47"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the conviction overturned.","the opposing side wants the conviction upheld."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 41-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 9-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 9-43"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the blood evidence is inconclusive.","the opposing side argues the blood proves guilt."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 41-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 9-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 9-43"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked if the district court found the blood not from a spill.","Justice Scalia asked if the side that brought the case claims the district court was clearly erroneous."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 47-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-23"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines how courts weigh physical evidence in criminal trials."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 41-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 9-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 9-43"}]},{"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 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 47-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-23"}]}],"slug":"2005-04-8990-house-v-bell","term":"2005","title":"Does blood on jeans prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 41-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 9-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-8990.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 9-43"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}