{"argument_date":"2013-12-11T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2013-12-11T00:00:00Z","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/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Lenz argued that no clearly established federal law was violated in this case.","Mr. Komp argued that prior precedent holds no basis to distinguish between guilt and penalty phases.","Justice Sotomayor questioned whether an affirmative instruction allowing the use of silence would be constitutional.","Justice Kagan asked if the Fifth Amendment has no role in sentencing hearings once a defendant is eligible for death."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 25-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 45-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 45-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-15"}]}],"caption":"White v. Woodall","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:24.323594Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether the Fifth Amendment bars a jury from inferring guilt from a defendant's refusal to testify at a capital sentencing hearing.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 45-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 45-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 11-13"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2013-12-11T00:00:00Z","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/12-794.html","primary_docket":"12-794","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T21:09:04.042156Z","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 tests the scope of the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. The core conflict involves whether that protection extends to the sentencing phase of a capital trial. the side that brought the case argues the right applies fully. the opposing side argues the right does not bar such inferences at that stage."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 45-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 45-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 11-13"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 11, 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/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the Court to hold that the Fifth Amendment bars the jury from using the defendant's silence against him during sentencing.","the opposing side wants the Court to hold that the Fifth Amendment does not bar the jury from using the defendant's silence against him during sentencing."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 45-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 45-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 11-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues that the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination applies equally to the guilt and penalty phases of a capital trial.","the opposing side argues that the Fifth Amendment does not prohibit a jury from drawing inferences from a defendant's silence during a sentencing hearing."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 45-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 45-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 11-13"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked whether the Fifth Amendment permits a judge to instruct a jury to use a defendant's silence against him.","Justice Scalia asked whether a judge could inform a jury that a defendant chose not to testify during a punishment hearing."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 25-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-15"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines the practical limits of the right against self-incrimination. It determines whether defendants can remain silent during sentencing without facing adverse inferences. This affects the conduct of all capital sentencing proceedings nationwide."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 45-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 45-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 11-13"}]},{"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 10, lines 25-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 25-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-15"}]}],"slug":"2013-12-794-white-v-woodall","term":"2013","title":"Can a jury use a defendant's silence against him during sentencing?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 45-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 45-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-794_3703.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 11-13"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}