{"argument_date":"2008-12-09T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2008-12-09T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2008","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Goldstein argued two things are uncontested in the case.","He stated the side that brought the case is on death row, not in solitary confinement.","He described the dilemma the Court faces in disposing of the case.","Chief Justice Roberts noted the state court opinion discussed federalism issues."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 17-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 51-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 51-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-49"}]}],"caption":"Cone v. Bell","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.803533Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.814445Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the side that brought the case argues the state court relied on federalism grounds. the opposing side claims the state court found no Brady violation on the merits.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 17-11"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2008-12-09T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2008","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/07-1114.html","primary_docket":"07-1114","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T02:51:54.124873Z","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 concerns federal habeas corpus review. The core dispute is whether a state court's alternate holding prevents federal courts from reviewing a Brady claim. the side that brought the case seeks federal review of the claim. the opposing side argues the state court resolved the claim on the merits."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 17-11"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 9, 2008."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 15-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the Supreme Court to review the Brady claim on the merits.","the opposing side wants the Supreme Court to affirm the lower court's conclusion that no Brady violation occurred."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 17-11"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the state court's alternate holding on federalism allows federal review of the Brady claim.","the opposing side argues the state court's holding that the documents were not Brady material resolves the claim on the merits."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 17-11"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked when the conviction and death sentence were pronounced.","Chief Justice Roberts asked why procedural issues are before the Court if the merits are resolved."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 51-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 51-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-49"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the scope of federal habeas review. It determines when federal courts can examine state court decisions. The outcome affects the rights of death row inmates. It clarifies the relationship between state and federal courts in habeas cases."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 17-11"}]},{"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 10, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 51-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 51-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-49"}]}],"slug":"2008-07-1114-cone-v-bell","term":"2008","title":"Does a state court's alternate holding bar federal habeas review of a Brady claim?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1114.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 17-11"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}