{"argument_date":"2017-03-29T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2017-03-29T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2016","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Williams argued the prosecution clearly violated Brady principles.","Mr. Dreeben asserted the evidence of a group attack was strong and corroborated.","Ms. Rice noted the jury repeatedly deadlocked before returning a conviction.","Justice Alito questioned the consistency of the alternative perpetrator theory with trial defenses."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 28-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 28-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 16-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 16-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 12-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 12-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 12-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 12-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 52-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 52-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 40-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 40-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 48-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 48-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 28-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 28-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 22-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 8-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 16-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 20-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 20-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 24-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 24-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 8-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 8-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 50-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 48-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 6-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 6-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 12-4"}]}],"caption":"Turner v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:21.720921Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:21.737018Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the sides that brought the case seek new trials after prosecutors withheld evidence. The government argues the convictions stand despite the omission.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 48-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 48-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 28-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 28-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 22-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 24-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 24-44"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2017-03-29T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2016","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/15-1503.html","primary_docket":"15-1503","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T18:40:08.002161Z","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 involves two men convicted of a group attack. Prosecutors withheld evidence that could have supported an alternative perpetrator theory. the sides that brought the case claim this omission violated their right to a fair trial. The government argues the remaining evidence was strong enough to sustain the verdicts."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 48-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 48-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 28-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 28-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 22-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 24-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 24-44"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 29, 2017."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 8-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 8-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 8-10"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want new trials because the withheld evidence could have changed the jury's decision.","The government wants the convictions to stand because the evidence of guilt was strong and corroborated."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 48-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 48-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 28-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 28-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 22-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 24-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 24-44"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue the prosecution violated Brady by withholding material, favorable information.","The government argues the evidence of a group attack was strong and corroborated by multiple sources."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 48-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 48-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 28-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 28-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 22-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 24-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 24-44"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito asked how a complete fabrication without motive fits the defense theory.","Justice Sotomayor asked if the withheld evidence would have led to introducing a later crime."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 28-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 28-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 16-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 16-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 12-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 12-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 12-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 12-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 52-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 52-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 40-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 40-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 16-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 20-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 20-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 8-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 8-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 50-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 48-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 6-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 6-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 12-4"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the threshold for materiality in Brady violations. It determines when withheld evidence requires a new trial. The outcome affects the reliability of criminal convictions nationwide."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 48-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 48-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 28-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 28-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 22-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 24-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 24-44"}]},{"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 11, lines 28-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 28-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 16-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 16-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 12-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 12-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 12-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 12-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 52-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 52-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 40-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 40-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 8-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 16-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 20-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 20-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 8-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 8-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 50-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 48-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 6-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 6-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 12-4"}]}],"slug":"2016-15-1503-turner-v-united-states","term":"2016","title":"Does a Brady violation require a new trial when the evidence of guilt is strong?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 48-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 48-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 28-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 28-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 22-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 24-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1503_3f14.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 24-44"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}