October Term 2004 · Docket 04-637
Did a judge's mistaken belief about the killer violate a guilty plea?
A state prosecutor argues a judge's error did not break the plea. The defendant argues the error forced a wrongful sentence.
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. Cole stated the evidence proves Stumpf's guilt.
Mr. Cole noted the lower court freed him on habeas review.
Mr. Freedman described the arguments made in the first trial.
Justice Souter questioned the link between the plea and the sentence.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-1
- 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 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-31
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
John Stumpf pleaded guilty to aggravated murder. A lower court freed him on habeas review. The state says the plea remained valid despite the judge's error.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-33
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 19, 2005.
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 state wants to keep the guilty plea and sentence intact.
The defendant wants the lower court's release order to stand.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-33
What each side says
The state argues the plea was voluntary despite the judge's error.
The defendant argues the judge's error tainted the sentencing process.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-33
What the justices asked
Justice Souter asked if the prosecutor identified Stumpf as the triggerman.
Justice O'Connor asked if sentencers relied on the judge's belief.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-31
Why it matters
This case defines when a judge's mistake invalidates a guilty plea. It sets the standard for reviewing plea agreements. It protects the finality of criminal convictions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-33
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 35-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-1
- 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 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-31
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 29-37 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-33
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.