{"argument_date":"2015-10-07T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2015-10-07T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2015","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Kovner argued the Kansas Supreme Court erred.","Mr. McAllister argued each defendant received individualized sentencing.","Mr. Green highlighted differences in mitigation evidence."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 14-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 14-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 32-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 32-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 46-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 20-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 32-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 32-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 48-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 48-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 10-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 10-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 18-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 26-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 26-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 14-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 14-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 12-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 12-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 24-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 30-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 8-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 18-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 18-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 24-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 14-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 14-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 28-32"}]}],"caption":"Kansas v. Carr","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:22.952844Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:22.977136Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Kansas argues joint sentencing is constitutional. The defendants claim it violates their rights.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 48-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 48-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 10-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 10-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 18-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 26-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 26-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 14-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 14-10"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2015-10-07T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2015","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/14-449.html","primary_docket":"14-449","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T19:31:04.926335Z","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 whether joint sentencing violates the Eighth Amendment. Kansas argues the process is fair. The defendants claim it is unfair."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 48-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 48-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 10-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 10-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 18-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 26-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 26-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 14-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 14-10"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 7, 2015."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 14-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 14-10"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Kansas wants the Court to uphold the joint sentencing.","The defendants want the Court to reverse the lower court."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 48-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 48-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 10-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 10-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 18-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 26-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 26-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 14-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 14-10"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Kansas argues joint sentencing enhances accuracy and fairness.","The defendants argue joint sentencing prevents individualized sentencing."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 48-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 48-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 10-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 10-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 18-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 26-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 26-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 14-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 14-10"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Kennedy asked if the issue applies only to the penalty phase.","Justice Sotomayor asked what constitutional standard the Court should apply."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 14-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 14-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 32-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 32-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 46-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 20-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 32-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 32-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 12-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 12-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 24-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 30-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 8-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 18-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 18-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 24-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 14-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 14-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 28-32"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the limits of joint criminal sentencing. It affects how courts handle multiple defendants. It shapes future Eighth Amendment interpretations."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 48-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 48-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 10-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 10-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 18-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 26-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 26-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 14-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 14-10"}]},{"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 14-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 14-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 32-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 32-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 46-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 20-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 32-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 32-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 14-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 14-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 12-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 12-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 24-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 30-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 8-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 18-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 18-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 24-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 14-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 14-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 28-32"}]}],"slug":"2015-14-449-kansas-v-carr","term":"2015","title":"Does joint sentencing violate the Eighth Amendment?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 48-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 48-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 10-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 10-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 18-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 26-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 26-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 14-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-449_1924.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 14-10"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}