{"argument_date":"2005-12-07T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2005-12-07T00:00:00Z","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/2005/04-928.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Williams argued that the Eighth Amendment requires juries to consider mitigation related to the defendant's background or offense circumstances.","Mr. Shanmugam argued that prohibiting guilt-phase relitigation during sentencing does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment.","Justice O'Connor questioned whether the Oregon Supreme Court misapprehended the facts regarding the defendant's presence during the crime.","Justice Breyer asked if the Oregon court mistakenly believed the defendant was not present during the crime."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 43-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 13-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 49-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 49-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 35-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 1-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 1-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-47"}]}],"caption":"Oregon v. Guzek","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.060416Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.070164Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Oregon seeks to prevent a defendant from arguing guilt-phase doubts during sentencing. The defendant claims this violates the Eighth Amendment.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 13-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 49-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 49-33"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2005-12-07T00:00:00Z","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/04-928.html","primary_docket":"04-928","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T14:01:40.422351Z","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 case tests whether a state can block a defendant from arguing guilt-phase doubts during a death penalty hearing. The defendant claims this violates the Eighth Amendment."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 13-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 49-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 49-33"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 7, 2005."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 35-54"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Oregon wants the Court to affirm the state's ban on guilt-phase arguments during sentencing.","Guzek wants the Court to allow him to argue guilt-phase doubts during his death penalty hearing."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 13-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 49-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 49-33"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Oregon argues that prohibiting guilt-phase relitigation during sentencing does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment.","Guzek argues that the Eighth Amendment requires juries to consider mitigation related to the defendant's background or offense circumstances."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 13-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 49-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 49-33"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice O'Connor asked if some of the mother's testimony would be admissible at the penalty stage under Oregon law.","Justice Breyer asked if the Oregon court misapprehended the facts regarding the defendant's presence during the crime."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 43-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 35-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 1-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 1-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-47"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case determines whether states can restrict what defendants argue during death penalty hearings. It affects the scope of mitigation evidence in capital sentencing."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 13-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 49-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 49-33"}]},{"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 41-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 43-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 35-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 1-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 1-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-47"}]}],"slug":"2005-04-928-oregon-v-guzek","term":"2005","title":"Can a state bar a defendant from arguing guilt-phase doubts during a death penalty hearing?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 13-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 49-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-928.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 49-33"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}