{"argument_date":"2009-01-13T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2009-01-13T00:00:00Z","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/2008/08-88.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Rainville argued for reversing the Vermont Supreme Court.","She cited four legal reasons for the reversal.","Justice Roberts questioned the lower court concession.","He asked about systemic state hiring issues."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 49-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 49-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 49-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 51-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 51-3"}]}],"caption":"Vermont v. Brillon","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.650159Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Vermont argues court delays are not state faults. Brillon claims these delays violate his rights.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 49-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 49-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-43"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2009-01-13T00:00:00Z","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/08-88.html","primary_docket":"08-88","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T02:43:59.677680Z","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 case tests whether state court delays count as state actions. This affects how courts handle slow trials."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 49-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 49-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-43"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 13, 2009."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Vermont wants the Court to reject Brillon's delay claim.","Brillon wants the Court to reverse the lower court decision."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 49-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 49-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-43"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Vermont argues court misfeasance is not state fault.","Brillon argues systemic state problems caused the delay."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 49-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 49-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-43"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked if court errors are state errors.","Chief Justice Roberts asked about systemic hiring problems."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 49-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 51-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 51-3"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This defines state responsibility for court delays. It shapes future speedy trial claims nationwide."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 49-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 49-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-43"}]},{"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 45-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 49-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 51-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 51-3"}]}],"slug":"2008-08-88-vermont-v-brillon","term":"2008","title":"Does a state court's delay violate a defendant's speedy trial rights?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 49-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 49-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-88.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-43"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}