{"argument_date":"2009-10-13T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2009-10-13T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2009","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","paragraphs":["General Cordray argued the state court's decision was contrary to federal precedent.","Mr. Benza argued trial counsel presented improper aggravating factors to the jury.","justice_stevens_questioned_which_prong_of_strickland_the_state_court_relied_on","justice_stevens_questioned_if_the_argument_depends_on_deference_or_fresh_prejudice_analysis"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 9-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 25-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 25-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 31-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 31-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 51-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 21-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 45-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-35"}]}],"caption":"Smith v. Spisak","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.260347Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.263851Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether Ohio's highest court unreasonably applied federal standards when it denied a death row inmate's appeal.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 25-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 25-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 21-7"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2009-10-13T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2009","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/08-724.html","primary_docket":"08-724","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T21:09:05.502820Z","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 involves a death row inmate challenging his conviction. The core issue is whether the state court's decision violated federal law regarding ineffective assistance of counsel."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 25-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 25-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 21-7"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 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/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 9-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the federal court to find the state court's decision unreasonable under federal law.","the opposing side wants the federal court to uphold the state court's application of federal law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 25-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 25-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 21-7"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the state court unreasonably applied the Strickland standard for ineffective assistance of counsel.","the opposing side argues the state court correctly applied federal law and independently reweighed sentencing factors."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 25-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 25-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 21-7"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Stevens asked which part of the Strickland test the state court relied upon.","Justice Stevens asked if the side that brought the case's argument depends on deference to the state court or fresh prejudice analysis."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 9-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 31-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 31-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 51-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 45-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-35"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case determines how federal courts review state court decisions on ineffective assistance of counsel claims in death penalty cases."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 25-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 25-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 21-7"}]},{"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 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 9-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 31-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 31-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 51-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 45-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-35"}]}],"slug":"2009-08-724-smith-v-spisak","term":"2009","title":"Did Ohio's highest court wrongly apply federal law to deny a death row inmate's appeal?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 25-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 25-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-724.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 21-7"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}