{"argument_date":"2007-10-31T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2007-10-31T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2007","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Butler argued the Minnesota Supreme Court incorrectly claimed federal law prevented it from deciding prisoner access.","Mr. Diamond asserted federal law controls the retroactivity of new constitutional rulings.","Justice Roberts noted Teague exceptions depend on the nature of the underlying right."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 47-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-49"}]}],"caption":"Danforth v. Minnesota","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:27.624108Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the side that brought the case argues federal law controls retroactivity. the opposing side claims state courts decide which prisoners gain access to new rights.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 7-15"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2007-10-31T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2007","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/06-8273.html","primary_docket":"06-8273","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T12:04:08.782302Z","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 whether federal law dictates when new constitutional rules apply to old convictions. the side that brought the case seeks uniform national standards. the opposing side defends state autonomy in applying these rules."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 31, 2007."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the Court to mandate federal retroactivity rules for all states.","the opposing side wants the Court to allow states to set their own retroactivity standards."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues federal law exclusively controls the retroactivity of new constitutional rulings.","the opposing side argues state courts must decide which prisoners can raise federal challenges."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked if determining non-retroactivity is a substantive federal law decision.","Justice Kennedy questioned if state courts are reaching questions federal law forbids."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 47-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-49"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute defines the balance between federal uniformity and state judicial power. It determines whether prisoners nationwide receive identical access to new constitutional protections. The outcome shapes the finality of criminal convictions across the country."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 7-15"}]},{"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 47-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 47-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-49"}]}],"slug":"2007-06-8273-danforth-v-minnesota","term":"2007","title":"Can states ignore federal retroactivity rules for new constitutional rights?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-8273.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 7-15"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}