{"argument_date":"2021-12-08T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2021-12-08T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2021","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Roysden argued that Congress created a high bar for federal evidentiary hearings under AEDPA.","Mr. Loeb argued that the statute requires a finding of fault to bar a hearing.","Chief Justice Roberts noted that excusing a default implies the right to present supporting evidence.","Justice Thomas questioned the utility of excusing a default without allowing evidence development."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 51-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 51-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-49"}]}],"caption":"Shinn v. Ramirez","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:17.996444Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T23:56:21.800507Z","explanation":"An official Court opinion was verified.","status":"decided"}],"case_status":"decided","dek":"The dispute centers on whether federal courts must hold evidentiary hearings for habeas claims when state courts barred them due to procedural errors.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-15"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2021-12-08T00:00:00Z","maturity":"post_opinion","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2021","official_disposition_urls":["https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/596us1r32_e29g.pdf"],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/20-1009.html","primary_docket":"20-1009","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T16:58:00.918741Z","maturity":"post_opinion","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"post_opinion","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["This case tests the scope of federal habeas review. It asks if a prisoner can present new evidence after missing state deadlines. The outcome affects the balance between state finality and federal oversight."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-15"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 8, 2021."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants a federal evidentiary hearing to present new evidence supporting his habeas claim.","the opposing side wants the federal court to deny the hearing because the state court barred the claim."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues that excusing a procedural default requires allowing the prisoner to develop the underlying factual basis.","the opposing side argues that the statute only bars hearings when the applicant failed to develop facts through fault."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-15"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Roberts asked if the statutory language specified the rule before the Martinez decision.","Justice Thomas questioned the purpose of excusing a default without allowing the prisoner to develop evidence."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 51-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 51-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-49"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the limits of federal habeas relief. It determines whether prisoners can cure procedural errors with new evidence. The ruling shapes the finality of state criminal convictions."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-15"}]},{"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 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 51-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 51-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-49"}]}],"slug":"2021-20-1009-shinn-v-ramirez","term":"2021","title":"Can a prisoner use new evidence after a procedural default?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-1009_5j31.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-15"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":"latest_argument_date","updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}