{"argument_date":"2011-10-31T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2011-10-31T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2011","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","paragraphs":["Cooper's lawyer argued the bad advice caused a much longer prison term.","The state's lawyer argued the trial itself was fair and reliable.","The state's lawyer argued a new trial is the standard remedy for bad advice.","Justice Kagan questioned why a longer sentence is not a different outcome."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 29-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 29-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 39-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 37-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 51-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 51-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-11"}]}],"caption":"Lafler v. Cooper","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:35.589007Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:35.619916Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Anthony Cooper claims his lawyer gave bad advice. He now serves a longer sentence than the rejected deal offered.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 29-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 29-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 37-49"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2011-10-31T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2011","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/10-209.html","primary_docket":"10-209","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T23:44:26.954121Z","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":["Cooper rejected a plea deal after his lawyer advised him to. He lost at trial and received a harsher sentence. He argues this bad advice violated his rights. The state argues the trial itself was fair and reliable."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 29-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 29-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 37-49"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 31, 2011."],"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/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 13-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Cooper wants a remedy for the longer sentence he received after rejecting the plea deal.","The state wants the conviction to stand because the trial process was reliable."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 29-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 29-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 37-49"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Cooper argues bad advice caused a significantly longer prison term, which is a clear harm.","The state argues the right to effective counsel only protects the reliability of the trial itself."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 29-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 29-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 37-49"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked if being a poor negotiator constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel.","Justice Kagan asked how a longer sentence is not a different outcome if the advice was bad."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 39-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 51-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 51-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-11"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the scope of the right to effective counsel during plea negotiations. It determines whether a longer sentence from a rejected deal counts as legal harm. The outcome shapes how courts evaluate claims of bad legal advice in criminal cases."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 29-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 29-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 37-49"}]},{"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 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 39-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 51-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 51-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-11"}]}],"slug":"2011-10-209-lafler-v-cooper","term":"2011","title":"Does a rejected plea bargain require a new trial if counsel gave bad advice?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 29-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 29-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-209.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 37-49"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}