{"argument_date":"2010-10-13T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2010-10-13T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2010","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","paragraphs":["Robert Owen argued the Civil Rights Act permits this federal claim.","He stated the only issue is federal court access to evidence.","Justice Alito questioned if the claim avoids Rooker-Feldman doctrine.","He noted habeas corpus is not subject to claim preclusion."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 51-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 9-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 7-15"}]}],"caption":"Skinner v. Switzer","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:36.491597Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:36.515782Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"A prisoner seeks federal court access to DNA evidence. The state denies this request.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 9-9"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2010-10-13T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2010","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/09-9000.html","primary_docket":"09-9000","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T01:01:31.889714Z","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 federal court jurisdiction over prisoner evidence claims."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 9-9"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 13, 2010."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 17-25"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The prisoner wants federal court access to DNA evidence.","The state wants the federal court to dismiss the case."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 9-9"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The prisoner argues the Civil Rights Act allows this federal claim.","The state argues federal courts cannot hear this specific evidence claim."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 9-9"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito asked if the claim avoids Rooker-Feldman doctrine.","Justice Sotomayor asked how this differs from the Alaska rule in Osborne."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 51-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines federal court power over prisoner evidence requests. It shapes access to DNA testing for inmates. It clarifies the boundary between state and federal judicial authority."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 9-9"}]},{"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 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 51-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 7-15"}]}],"slug":"2010-09-9000-skinner-v-switzer","term":"2010","title":"Can prisoners sue in federal court for DNA evidence access?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-9000.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 9-9"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}