{"argument_date":"2009-11-09T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2009-11-09T00:00:00Z","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/2009/08-7621.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Stevenson argued Sullivan was 13 at arrest. He stated Sullivan was convicted of sexual assault. He noted the sentence was life without parole.","Mr. Makar argued the data supporting Sullivan is unreliable. He contrasted this with the rich literature in death penalty cases.","Justice Scalia questioned the applicability of Roper to this case. He noted Roper involved a death penalty context.","Justice Ginsburg raised the two-year statute of limitations. She noted the petition was filed in 2007. She asked if correcting a sentence overtakes the limitation."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 17-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 47-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-27"}]}],"caption":"Sullivan v. Florida","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.110522Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Florida bars Sullivan from challenging his life sentence because he filed late. Sullivan argues the state limit violates federal rights.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-35"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2009-11-09T00:00:00Z","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/08-7621.html","primary_docket":"08-7621","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T21:08:03.970825Z","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":["Sullivan was 13 when convicted of sexual assault. He received a life sentence without parole. Florida law sets a two-year limit for post-conviction claims. Sullivan filed his claim in 2007. The conviction occurred in 1993. The state argues the time limit applies. Sullivan argues the limit blocks federal rights."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-35"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 9, 2009."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Sullivan wants the Court to strike down the state time limit. He argues the limit blocks his federal constitutional claim.","Florida wants the Court to uphold the state time limit. It argues the limit bars Sullivan's late claim."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-35"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Sullivan argues the state time limit violates federal law. He claims the limit prevents him from challenging his sentence.","Florida argues the state time limit is valid. It claims the limit bars Sullivan's late claim."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-35"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked if Roper applies to non-death cases. He questioned the relevance of death penalty precedents here.","Justice Alito asked if the state judge decided Roper required the result. He sought clarity on the independent state ground argument."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 17-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 47-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-27"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines when states can block federal claims. It affects all juveniles facing life sentences. It clarifies the power of state time limits. It shapes the balance between state and federal law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-35"}]},{"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 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 17-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 47-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-27"}]}],"slug":"2009-08-7621-sullivan-v-florida","term":"2009","title":"Does a state time limit block a juvenile from challenging a life sentence?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-7621.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-35"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}