{"argument_date":"2021-10-05T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2021-10-05T00:00:00Z","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/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Hammoud argued that the opposing side's concession narrows the dispute.","She contended that a modified approach ignores state court deference.","Ms. Bahal asserted that both legal standards have been met in this case.","She stated that the state did not seek review of the prejudice finding."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 39-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 55-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 55-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 53-7"}]}],"caption":"Brown v. Davenport","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:18.222238Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T23:57:05.086461Z","explanation":"An official Court opinion was verified.","status":"decided"}],"case_status":"decided","dek":"The dispute centers on whether federal courts must apply both Brecht and AEDPA standards when reviewing state court decisions.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-53"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2021-10-05T00:00:00Z","maturity":"post_opinion","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2021","official_disposition_urls":["https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/596us1r24_9p6b.pdf"],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/20-826.html","primary_docket":"20-826","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T17:06:07.782850Z","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 examines how federal courts handle habeas corpus petitions. The core issue involves the interaction between two legal standards. One standard assesses prejudice from constitutional errors. The other standard grants deference to state court judgments. The parties disagree on how these standards interact. The Court must clarify the procedural path for these reviews."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-53"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 5, 2021."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-23"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the Court to confirm that the Brecht standard alone governs this review.","the opposing side wants the Court to require application of the AEDPA deference standard as well."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-53"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues that the Brecht standard subsumes the AEDPA requirements in this context.","the opposing side argues that the AEDPA standard remains a separate and necessary precondition for relief."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-53"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Thomas asked how a drafter would coordinate Brecht and AEDPA on a clean slate.","Justice Barrett asked how to handle specific language from a prior case if the Court sides with the side that brought the case."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 39-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 55-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 55-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 53-7"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the procedural burden for federal habeas courts. It determines whether judges must apply two distinct legal tests. The outcome shapes the difficulty of obtaining federal relief. It affects the finality of state court judgments. The ruling clarifies the scope of federal judicial review."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-53"}]},{"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 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 39-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 55-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 55-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 53-7"}]}],"slug":"2021-20-826-brown-v-davenport","term":"2021","title":"Does the Brecht standard replace AEDPA deference in habeas cases?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-826_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-53"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":"latest_argument_date","updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}