October Term 2004 · Docket 04-6964
Who must prove racial bias in jury selection?
The dispute centers on who bears the burden of proof when a juror challenges a strike as racially motivated.
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. Bedrick argued the state must disclose reasons for strikes.
Mr. Schalit argued the challenger must prove a prima facie case.
Justice Kennedy questioned the rigor of the proposed standard.
Justice O'Connor asked if the standard relies on Title VII cases.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 21-45 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 21-45
- 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 15-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the standard for proving racial discrimination in jury selection. the side that brought the case argues the state must explain its strikes. The state argues the challenger must prove bias first.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 21-45 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-11
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 18, 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 side that brought the case wants the state to explain its jury strikes.
The state wants the challenger to prove racial bias first.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 21-45 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-11
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the state must disclose reasons for strikes.
The state argues the challenger must prove a prima facie case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 21-45 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-11
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if a lack of answer presumes the challenge is correct.
Justice Scalia asked what happens if the state does not provide an answer.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-7
Why it matters
This case defines the legal standard for detecting racial bias in jury selection. It determines how courts evaluate claims of discriminatory strikes. The outcome shapes the fairness of criminal trials nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 21-45 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-11
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 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-7
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 26, lines 21-45 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 21-45 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-11
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.