October Term 2004 · Docket 04-6432
Can federal courts use Rule 60(b) to fix habeas errors?
the sides that brought the case seek to use Rule 60(b) to correct habeas corpus errors. the opposing sides argue this rule is unavailable in such cases.
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
the sides that brought the case assert the Eleventh Circuit wrongly banned Rule 60(b) in habeas cases.
the opposing sides maintain the rule is unavailable absent fraud in habeas proceedings.
Justice O'Connor questioned if broad Rule 60(b) use would increase filings.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 47-21 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 47-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-29
- 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 39-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-43
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of Rule 60(b) in federal habeas proceedings. the sides that brought the case argue the rule allows courts to correct certain errors. the opposing sides claim the rule is categorically unavailable in habeas cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 47-21 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 47-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 9-17
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 25, 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 9-13 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 9-13
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want federal courts to use Rule 60(b) to correct habeas errors.
the opposing sides want courts to deny Rule 60(b) relief in habeas cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 47-21 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 47-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 9-17
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue Rule 60(b) remains available to fix specific habeas errors.
the opposing sides argue Rule 60(b) is categorically unavailable in habeas proceedings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 47-21 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 47-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 9-17
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if the rule refers to AEDPA in any circumstance.
Justice Ginsburg asked why Florida denied relief in the post-conviction proceeding.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-43
Why it matters
This dispute defines the tools available to correct federal habeas errors. It shapes how courts handle procedural mistakes in prisoner litigation. The outcome clarifies the boundary between habeas and civil procedure rules.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 47-21 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 47-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 9-17
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 13-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-47
- 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 39-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-43
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 24, lines 47-21 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 47-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 47-21 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 47-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 9-17
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.