October Term 2004 · Docket 03-9627
Does a state post-conviction filing toll the federal habeas deadline?
The dispute centers on whether a state post-conviction filing stops the federal habeas clock.
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
Wycoff argued state filings toll the federal deadline.
Eisenberg argued Pennsylvania uses a flat one-year limit.
Wycoff claimed Pace presented federal waiver-overcoming claims.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 9-5 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 9-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-3
- 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 45-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 1-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 1-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-35
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Pace seeks federal habeas review. The warden argues the deadline expired. The case tests the tolling effect of state filings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 9-5 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 9-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 19-3
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 28, 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 55, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 5-7
What each side wants
Pace wants the state filing to toll the federal deadline.
The warden wants the federal deadline to remain strict.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 9-5 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 9-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 19-3
What each side says
Pace argues state filings pause the federal clock.
The warden argues state filings do not toll the deadline.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 9-5 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 9-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 19-3
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if unpleaded exceptions defeat proper filing.
Justice Kennedy asked about Pennsylvania claim-by-claim pleading rules.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 1-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 1-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-35
Why it matters
This case defines the interaction between state and federal deadlines. It determines when a prisoner loses federal review rights. The outcome shapes access to federal courts for state inmates.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 9-5 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 9-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 19-3
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 33-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-3
- 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 45-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 1-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 1-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-35
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 27, lines 9-5 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 9-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 9-5 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 9-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 19-3
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.