{"argument_date":"2008-04-16T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2008-04-16T00:00:00Z","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/2007/07-343.pdf","paragraphs":["Jeffrey Fisher argued that no one has been executed for rape in forty-three years.","He claimed a long-standing national consensus exists against this punishment.","He stated that Louisiana's attempt violates the Eighth Amendment.","Ms. Clark described the brutal nature of the specific crime involved."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 29-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 9-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 9-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 23-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 23-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 25-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 45-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-31"}]}],"caption":"Kennedy v. Louisiana","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:36.240645Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:36.254878Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Louisiana seeks to execute a man for raping a child. The defendant argues the Eighth Amendment forbids this punishment.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 9-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 9-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 23-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 23-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 25-37"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2008-04-16T00:00:00Z","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/07-343.html","primary_docket":"07-343","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T03:31:26.693843Z","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 Court must decide if the Eighth Amendment bars the death penalty for rape. Louisiana argues the crime causes unique harm. The defendant claims a national consensus opposes this penalty."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 9-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 9-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 23-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 23-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 25-37"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 16, 2008."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 45-51"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Louisiana wants to execute the defendant for raping a child.","The defendant wants the Court to strike down his death sentence."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 9-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 9-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 23-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 23-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 25-37"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Louisiana argues that violent child rape causes irreparable harm.","The defendant argues that a national consensus opposes this penalty."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 9-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 9-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 23-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 23-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 25-37"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Souter asked if states could define the class as rapists of children under twelve.","Justice Scalia asked how to describe a particularly heinous rape of a child."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 29-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 45-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-31"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the limits of capital punishment for non-homicide crimes. It determines whether states can execute offenders for severe sexual violence. The outcome shapes future sentencing laws for violent crimes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 9-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 9-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 23-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 23-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 25-37"}]},{"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 10, lines 29-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 29-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 45-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-31"}]}],"slug":"2007-07-343-kennedy-v-louisiana","term":"2007","title":"Can states impose the death penalty for child rape?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 9-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 9-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 23-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 23-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-343.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 25-37"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}