{"argument_date":"2008-11-12T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2008-11-12T00:00:00Z","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/2008/07-1223.pdf","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue federal courts must review new evidence in capital cases.","the opposing sides argue state courts already decided the claim on the merits.","questions"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 37-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-5"}]}],"caption":"Bell v. Kelly","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.957497Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the sides that brought the case argue federal courts must review new evidence in capital cases. the opposing sides argue state courts already decided the claim.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 37-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-7"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2008-11-12T00:00:00Z","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/07-1223.html","primary_docket":"07-1223","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T21:24:03.146849Z","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 how federal courts handle new evidence in capital cases. the sides that brought the case want federal review of new evidence. the opposing sides want state court decisions to stand."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 37-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-7"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 12, 2008."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want federal courts to review new evidence in capital cases.","the opposing sides want state court decisions to stand without federal review."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 37-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-7"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue federal courts must review new evidence in capital cases.","the opposing sides argue state courts already decided the claim on the merits."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 37-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-7"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito asked why federal courts must review claims state courts already decided.","Justice Ginsburg asked how diligence applies when counsel was ineffective."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-5"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the scope of federal review in capital cases. It determines whether federal courts can revisit state court decisions. It affects the rights of death row inmates nationwide."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 37-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-7"}]},{"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 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-5"}]}],"slug":"2008-07-1223-bell-v-kelly","term":"2008","title":"Can federal courts review new evidence in capital cases if state courts already decided the claim?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 37-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1223.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-7"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}