{"argument_date":"2017-04-24T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2017-04-24T00:00:00Z","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/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Bright argued that the 1985 precedent clearly established the right to neutral assistance.","General Brasher argued that the precedent did not require a neutral expert.","Justice Roberts asked whether the expert worked for the state or the prosecution.","Justice Sotomayor noted that the expert requested additional help late in the process."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 44-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 44-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 22-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 22-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 6-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 6-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 22-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 22-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 36-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 36-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 20-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 48-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 48-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 52-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 52-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 24-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 30-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 40-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 44-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 32-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 32-24"}]}],"caption":"McWilliams v. Dunn","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:21.565673Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a defendant receives adequate psychiatric help when the state assigns an expert to the prosecution.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 22-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 22-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-34"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2017-04-24T00:00:00Z","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/16-5294.html","primary_docket":"16-5294","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T18:37:30.879112Z","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 the scope of the right to expert assistance in criminal trials."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 22-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 22-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-34"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 24, 2017."],"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/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case seeks a ruling that the state must provide a neutral expert.","the opposing side seeks a ruling that the current expert arrangement satisfies due process."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 22-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 22-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-34"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues that a prosecutor's expert violates the right to a viable defense.","the opposing side argues that the state provided sufficient psychiatric assistance under existing law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 22-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 22-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-34"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Kennedy asked if the law requires the expert to consult only with the defense.","Justice Sotomayor asked what specific aid a defendant needs to mount a viable defense."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 44-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 44-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 22-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 22-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 6-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 6-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 36-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 36-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 20-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 48-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 48-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 52-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 52-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 24-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 30-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 40-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 44-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 32-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 32-24"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the independence of state-funded experts in criminal trials. It determines whether defendants receive neutral psychiatric assistance. The outcome shapes the fairness of future criminal proceedings."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 22-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 22-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-34"}]},{"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 44-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 44-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 22-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 22-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 6-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 6-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 36-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 36-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 20-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 48-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 48-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 52-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 52-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 24-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 30-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 40-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 44-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 32-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 32-24"}]}],"slug":"2016-16-5294-mcwilliams-v-dunn","term":"2016","title":"Does a state-appointed psychiatrist working for the prosecution satisfy due process?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 22-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 22-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-5294_g314.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-34"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}