{"argument_date":"2006-04-17T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2006-04-17T00:00:00Z","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/2005/05-83.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Whisman argued that a judge deciding facts that raise a sentence violates the Sixth Amendment.","Mr. Link argued that the error in this case could not be subjected to harmless error analysis.","Ms. Millett argued that failure to submit an element to a jury is subject to harmless error analysis.","Mr. Whisman distinguished his case by noting the defendant was never put on notice of aggravated murder."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 43-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 43-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 47-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 47-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 27-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 1-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 1-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 1-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-31"}]}],"caption":"Washington v. Recuenco","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.379990Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.394619Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a judge may find facts that increase a sentence beyond the standard range.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 43-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 43-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 47-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 47-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 27-54"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2006-04-17T00:00:00Z","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/05-83.html","primary_docket":"05-83","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T21:57:30.390370Z","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 Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial. It asks if a judge can decide facts that raise a sentence above the standard range. the side that brought the case argues this violates constitutional rights. the opposing side argues the error was harmless."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 43-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 43-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 47-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 47-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 27-54"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 17, 2006."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 19-23"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the Court to declare the judge’s fact-finding unconstitutional.","the opposing side wants the Court to allow harmless error analysis for this mistake."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 43-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 43-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 47-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 47-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 27-54"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues a judge cannot decide facts that increase punishment above the standard range.","the opposing side argues this error is nonstructural and subject to harmless error review."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 43-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 43-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 47-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 47-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 27-54"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Stevens asked if the firearm must be operable.","Justice Kennedy questioned if the prosecutor thought there was no error regarding the deadly weapon definition."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 1-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 1-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 1-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-31"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the boundary between judge and jury powers in sentencing. It determines who decides facts that raise criminal penalties. The outcome shapes the core of the jury trial right in criminal law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 43-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 43-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 47-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 47-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 27-54"}]},{"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 11, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 1-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 1-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 1-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-31"}]}],"slug":"2005-05-83-washington-v-recuenco","term":"2005","title":"Can a judge decide facts that raise a criminal sentence?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 43-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 43-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 47-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 47-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-83.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 27-54"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}