{"argument_date":"2008-01-07T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2008-01-07T00:00:00Z","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/2007/07-5439.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Verrilli argued Kentucky's procedures pose a danger of cruel executions.","Mr. Englert agreed that proper administration of the first drug prevents pain.","Chief Justice Roberts noted an expert agreed proper administration yields a humane death.","Justice Kennedy asked if an argument exists assuming perfect administration."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 9-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 51-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 51-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 45-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 45-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 49-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-15"}]}],"caption":"Baze v. Rees","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:27.379034Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the sides that brought the case claim the state's execution method risks severe pain. The state argues proper administration prevents suffering.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 9-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 51-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 51-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 45-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 45-39"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2008-01-07T00:00:00Z","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/07-5439.html","primary_docket":"07-5439","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T11:53:43.209504Z","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 a specific chemical protocol for execution constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. The dispute centers on the risk of pain during the process."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 9-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 51-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 51-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 45-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 45-39"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 7, 2008."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the Court to strike down the three-drug protocol as unconstitutional.","The state wants the Court to uphold the current execution method."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 9-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 51-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 51-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 45-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 45-39"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue the protocol poses a danger of cruel and inhumane executions.","The state argues proper administration of the first drug ensures a painless death."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 9-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 51-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 51-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 45-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 45-39"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Breyer asked about the specific dosage of the first drug.","Justice Ginsburg asked if adequate monitoring could eliminate all risk of error."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 49-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-15"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines the constitutional limits on state execution methods. It determines whether procedural safeguards satisfy Eighth Amendment standards. The ruling sets a precedent for future challenges to lethal injection protocols."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 9-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 51-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 51-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 45-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 45-39"}]},{"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 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 49-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-15"}]}],"slug":"2007-07-5439-baze-v-rees","term":"2007","title":"Does Kentucky's three-drug lethal injection protocol violate the Eighth Amendment?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 9-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 51-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 51-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 45-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-5439.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 45-39"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}