October Term 2004 · Docket 03-9560
Does a state law claim satisfy federal exhaustion rules?
the side that brought the case argues his state claim met federal standards. The state argues it did not.
Verified source milestones
- — 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. Mitchell argued the state claim properly raised the federal issue.
Mr. Hood argued the defendant failed to make a valid federal claim.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-3
- 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 21-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-54
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests if a state claim counts as a federal one. This affects federal court access for state prisoners.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 29, 2004.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the federal claim treated as raised.
Mississippi wants the federal claim treated as unraised.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the state claim covers the federal issue.
Mississippi argues the state claim is too broad to match federal law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
What the justices asked
Justice Souter asked if the state scheme differs from federal rules.
Justice Scalia asked if state standards must always comply with federal requirements.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-54
Why it matters
This defines how state prisoners access federal courts. It clarifies the link between state and federal legal standards.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
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 45-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-3
- 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 21-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-54
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 22, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
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.