October Term 2004 · Docket 04-5462
Did trial counsel fail to investigate a defendant's life history?
A death row inmate claims his lawyer ignored key records. The state says the lawyer acted reasonably.
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
Nolas argued counsel failed to secure any life history documents.
Lovitt argued the investigation showed records contained nothing useful.
Scalia questioned whether experts would naturally discuss childhood problems.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-39 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 5-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-11
- 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 13-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 41-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-27 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 29-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-57 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-57
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-35
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the standard for ineffective assistance of counsel in capital cases. It asks if a lawyer must dig deeper when initial records look empty.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-39 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 5-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 41-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-27 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 29-27
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 18, 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 56, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-41
What each side wants
Rompilla wants a new trial based on ineffective counsel.
Beard wants the death sentence to stand.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-39 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 5-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 41-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-27 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 29-27
What each side says
Rompilla argues his lawyer ignored available life history records.
Beard argues the lawyer's investigation was objectively reasonable.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-39 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 5-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 41-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-27 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 29-27
What the justices asked
Justice O'Connor asked about the number of relatives who testified.
Justice Scalia questioned the intent behind using expert witnesses.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-57 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-57
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-35
Why it matters
This dispute defines the duty of lawyers in death penalty cases. It sets the bar for investigating a defendant's past. The outcome shapes future capital sentencing procedures nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-39 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 5-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 41-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-27 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 29-27
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 10, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-41
- 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 13-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-57 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-57
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-35
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 5-39 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 5-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 41-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-27 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 29-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-39 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 5-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 41-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 29-27 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 29-27
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.