October Term 2004 · Docket 04-5286
When does the one-year clock start for a federal prisoner's second habeas petition?
the side that brought the case argues the deadline starts when a new legal rule emerges. The government argues it starts when the first petition ends.
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
Ms. Bergmann argued the one-year period has two possible start dates.
Mr. Feldman argued the government's interpretation limits relief further.
Justice Breyer asked why the government's view might be better.
Justice Souter asked why a district court decision should not give notice.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-54
- 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 7-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-54 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 1-3 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 1-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-25
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the start date for a one-year filing limit. The limit applies to federal prisoners seeking a second habeas review. The parties disagree on the triggering event for this deadline.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-54 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-54
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 22, 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 54, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 31-3
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the clock to start when a new legal rule appears.
The government wants the clock to start when the first petition concludes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-54 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-54
What each side says
the side that brought the case claims a new rule triggers the one-year deadline.
The government claims the end of the first petition triggers the deadline.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-54 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-54
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Rehnquist asked what relief a nullity actually allows.
Justice O'Connor asked which court determines retroactivity under the statute.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 1-3 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 1-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-25
Why it matters
Prisoners face strict deadlines to challenge their convictions. A late filing bars all further review. The start date defines who gets a second chance.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-54 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-54
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 45-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-54
- 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 7-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 1-3 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 1-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-25
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 23, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-54 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-54 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-54
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.