{"argument_date":"2013-10-08T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2013-10-08T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2013","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case's advocate stated that the Michigan Court of Appeals erred in creating an end-run around Strickland.","the side that brought the case's advocate argued that a defendant's professed innocence does not automatically prove effective assistance.","the opposing side's advocate noted that the lower court found the submitted materials sufficient to justify a hearing.","Justice Kagan questioned the lower court's reasoning regarding a defendant's refusal to plead guilty."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 43-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 43-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 17-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, 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/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-21"}]}],"caption":"Burt v. Titlow","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:24.510560Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:24.528435Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a court can find ineffective assistance of counsel based solely on a silent record.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 17-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 25-25"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2013-10-08T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2013","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/12-414.html","primary_docket":"12-414","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T20:15:39.560280Z","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":["This case involves a prisoner challenging his conviction. The core issue is the standard for proving ineffective assistance of counsel in habeas corpus proceedings."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 17-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 25-25"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 8, 2013."],"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/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 17-19"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the Supreme Court to reject the lower court's reliance on a silent record to prove ineffective assistance.","the opposing side wants the Supreme Court to uphold the lower court's finding that the record supports the ineffective assistance claim."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 17-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 25-25"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues that no court has ever allowed a presumption of ineffective assistance based solely on a silent record.","the opposing side argues that the lower court correctly found the materials sufficient to justify a hearing on ineffective assistance."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 17-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 25-25"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito asked if the final sentence fell within Michigan guidelines.","Justice Breyer asked for clarification on habeas corpus law principles."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 43-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 43-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-21"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the evidentiary standard for proving ineffective assistance of counsel. It clarifies how courts must evaluate attorney performance in habeas proceedings. The outcome impacts the rights of prisoners seeking post-conviction relief."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 17-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 25-25"}]},{"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 43-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 43-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 43-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-21"}]}],"slug":"2013-12-414-burt-v-titlow","term":"2013","title":"Does a silent record prove ineffective assistance of counsel?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 17-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-414_ipdi.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 25-25"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}