{"argument_date":"2007-01-17T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2007-01-17T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2006","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","paragraphs":["Steiker argued the prior ruling barred the jury from weighing Smith's evidence.","Cruz argued two postulates govern the case.","Schaerr argued for the state's position."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 39-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 43-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 47, lines 11-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 21-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 37-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-7"}]}],"caption":"Smith v. Texas","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.081569Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.114551Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Smith argues Texas ignored his mitigating evidence. Texas claims the jury considered it anyway.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 39-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 47, lines 11-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 21-11"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2007-01-17T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2006","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/05-11304.html","primary_docket":"05-11304","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T12:45:42.374616Z","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":["Smith seeks a new trial. Texas wants to keep the death sentence."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 39-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 47, lines 11-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 21-11"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 17, 2007."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 13-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Smith wants a new trial. He claims the jury ignored his mitigating evidence.","Texas wants to keep the sentence. It claims the jury considered the evidence."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 39-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 47, lines 11-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 21-11"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Smith argues the jury instruction barred consideration of his mitigating evidence.","Texas argues the jury considered the evidence despite the instruction."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 39-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 47, lines 11-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 21-11"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Souter asked if harmless error analysis applies here.","Justice Scalia asked if the jury actually considered the evidence."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 43-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 37-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-7"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines how juries weigh mitigating evidence in death penalty trials."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 39-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 47, lines 11-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, 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 3, lines 43-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 43-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 37-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-7"}]}],"slug":"2006-05-11304-smith-v-texas","term":"2006","title":"Can Texas ignore mitigating evidence in death penalty cases?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 39-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 47, lines 11-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-11304.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 21-11"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}