{"argument_date":"2008-03-17T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2008-03-17T00:00:00Z","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/2007/07-440.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Spinelli argued the magistration marks the start of a criminal prosecution.","Mr. Coleman argued the magistration does not begin a criminal prosecution.","Justice Roberts questioned how the proceeding could be adversarial without the prosecution present.","Justice Kennedy sought a specific rule to tell states when counsel must be appointed."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 51-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-45"}]}],"caption":"Rothgery v. Gillespie County","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:27.200813Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a pre-charge magistration triggers the right to counsel.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-11"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2008-03-17T00:00:00Z","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/07-440.html","primary_docket":"07-440","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T11:36:04.794878Z","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":["Rothgery argues the magistration starts the prosecution. The county argues it does not."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-11"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 17, 2008."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Rothgery wants the Court to rule that the magistration starts the right to counsel.","The county wants the Court to rule that the magistration does not start the right."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-11"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Rothgery argues the magistration is an initial appearance that starts the prosecution.","The county argues no formal charges existed, so the right had not attached."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-11"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito asked if Texas could bar an attorney from the magistration.","Justice Ginsburg asked exactly when the right to counsel attached in this case."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 51-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-45"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines when states must provide counsel to arrested individuals. It sets a clear rule for state courts. It affects the rights of all criminal defendants."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-11"}]},{"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 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 51-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-45"}]}],"slug":"2007-07-440-rothgery-v-gillespie-county","term":"2007","title":"Does a Texas magistration start the Sixth Amendment right to counsel?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-440.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-11"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}