{"argument_date":"2015-10-13T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2015-10-13T00:00:00Z","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/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","paragraphs":["Seth Waxman argued that a judge made the factual finding for Hurst's death eligibility. He stated this violates the Sixth Amendment under prior Supreme Court precedent.","Florida's advocate argued the system remains constitutional. He claimed the jury already decided the necessary facts for Hurst's case.","justice_questions"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 36-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 36-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 46-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 6-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 6-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 16-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 16-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 16-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 28-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 28-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 34-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 50-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 26-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 42-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 42-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 10-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 10-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 16-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 26-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 26-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 38-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 4-12"}]}],"caption":"Hurst v. Florida","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:22.996742Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:22.999439Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Florida law lets a judge decide if a defendant faces execution. Timothy Hurst argues this violates the Sixth Amendment.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 16-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 16-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 42-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 42-8"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2015-10-13T00:00:00Z","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/14-7505.html","primary_docket":"14-7505","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T19:28:44.921626Z","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":["Timothy Hurst faces the death penalty in Florida. A judge, not a jury, found the facts that made him eligible for execution. Hurst claims this violates the Sixth Amendment. Florida argues the system remains constitutional. The Court must decide who decides these critical facts."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 16-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 16-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 42-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 42-8"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 13, 2015."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 10-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 10-12"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Timothy Hurst wants the Court to strike down Florida's sentencing law. He seeks a new trial with a jury deciding his eligibility for death.","Florida wants the Court to uphold its current sentencing system. It seeks to keep the judge's decision on death eligibility."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 16-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 16-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 42-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 42-8"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Florida argues its system was constitutional before recent rulings. It claims the jury already decided the necessary facts for Hurst's case.","Hurst argues a judge made the factual finding for his death eligibility. He claims this violates the Sixth Amendment under prior Supreme Court precedent."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 16-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 16-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 42-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 42-8"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked if a judge can ever reverse a jury's death recommendation.","Justice Scalia questioned whether juries must agree on specific aggravating factors or just generic conclusions."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 36-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 36-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 46-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 6-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 6-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 16-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 28-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 28-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 34-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 50-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 26-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 10-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 10-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 16-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 26-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 26-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 38-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 4-12"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines who decides if a person faces execution. It shapes the balance of power between judges and juries in capital cases. The outcome affects the rights of all defendants in death penalty states."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 16-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 16-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 42-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 42-8"}]},{"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 36-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 36-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 46-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 6-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 6-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 16-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 28-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 28-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 34-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 50-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 26-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 10-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 10-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 16-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 26-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 26-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 38-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 4-12"}]}],"slug":"2015-14-7505-hurst-v-florida","term":"2015","title":"Must a jury decide facts that make a defendant eligible for the death penalty?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 16-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 16-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 42-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-7505_n55g.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 42-8"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}