October Term 2004 · Docket 03-10198
Can a state deny appointed counsel for a first direct appeal?
The dispute centers on whether Michigan can refuse to provide free lawyers for indigent defendants seeking their first direct appeal.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Moran argued the right to counsel covers first direct felony appeals.
Mr. Schaerr argued the Court should respect state legislative design.
Mr. Restuccia focused on the specific waiver language used by the defendant.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 25-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 45-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 1-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-27
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of the right to counsel in state criminal appeals.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 25-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 27-41
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 25, 2005.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 43-45
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to strike down the Michigan statute.
State wants the Court to uphold the Michigan statute.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 25-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 27-41
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the right to counsel extends to first direct appeals.
State argues the Court should defer to state legislative choices.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 25-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 27-41
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if the defendant knew his rights did not include this appeal.
Justice Kennedy asked if the case turned on the adequacy of advice given.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 45-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 1-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-27
Why it matters
Indigent defendants face a choice between self-representation and no appeal in first-tier cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 25-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 27-41
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 45-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 1-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-27
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 25-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 25-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 25-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 27-41
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.