{"argument_date":"2011-11-08T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2011-11-08T00:00:00Z","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/2011/10-8145.pdf","paragraphs":["Smith's lawyer argued the prosecution hid evidence that would have shown a witness was unreliable.","The state's lawyer argued the witness was credible and the hidden statements did not affect the verdict.","questions_asked_by_justices"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 51-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 13-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 29-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 29-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 17-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 41-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-1"}]}],"caption":"Smith v. Cain","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:35.648841Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Smith claims prosecutors hid witness statements that could have weakened the case against him.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 41-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-47"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2011-11-08T00:00:00Z","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/10-8145.html","primary_docket":"10-8145","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T23:40:36.899756Z","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":["Smith argues the state withheld evidence that would have shown a witness was unreliable. The state argues the witness was credible and the hidden statements did not change the outcome."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 41-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-47"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 8, 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/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Smith wants the Court to find the hidden evidence changed the trial result.","The state wants the Court to uphold the conviction and deny relief."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 41-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-47"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Smith argues the prosecution violated its duty to share favorable evidence with the defense.","The state argues the witness was credible and the hidden statements did not affect the verdict."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 41-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-47"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked who determines if a statement is a dying declaration.","Justice Kennedy asked if specific statements were provided to defense counsel."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 51-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 13-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 29-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 29-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 17-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-1"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines how much evidence prosecutors must share with the defense. It affects the fairness of criminal trials nationwide."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 41-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-47"}]},{"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 51-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 51-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 13-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 29-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 29-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 17-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-1"}]}],"slug":"2011-10-8145-smith-v-cain","term":"2011","title":"Did prosecutors hide key witness statements?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 41-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-8145.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-47"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}