{"argument_date":"2010-03-29T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2010-03-29T00:00:00Z","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/2009/09-338.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. McGormley argued the case involves habeas relief.","He cited the AEDPA standard for review.","He questioned the Michigan Supreme Court's application of law."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 51-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 47-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-21"}]}],"caption":"Renico v. Lett","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:25.592835Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"A defendant argues a judge abused discretion by declaring a mistrial. The state argues the judge acted reasonably.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-13"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2010-03-29T00:00:00Z","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/09-338.html","primary_docket":"09-338","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T01:18:08.823799Z","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 involves a murder conviction in Michigan. The defendant seeks federal habeas relief. The state defends the trial court's actions."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-13"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 29, 2010."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the conviction overturned.","the opposing side wants the conviction upheld."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the judge acted unreasonably.","the opposing side argues the judge acted deliberately."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-13"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito asked when the defendant left the room.","Justice Sotomayor asked how the finding supports deliberate action."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 51-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 47-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-21"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the limits of judicial power. It determines when a judge may dismiss a jury. It protects the right to a fair trial."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-13"}]},{"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 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 51-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 47-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-21"}]}],"slug":"2009-09-338-renico-v-lett","term":"2009","title":"Can a judge declare a mistrial when a jury cannot agree?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-338.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-13"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}