October Term 2005 · Docket 04-1324
Can a federal judge dismiss a late habeas petition on their own?
The dispute centers on whether a federal judge can independently dismiss a prisoner's petition for release if the state failed to raise the deadline defense.
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 side that brought the case's counsel argued the state waived the deadline defense by not raising it.
the opposing side's counsel argued the judge's action was consistent with habeas rules.
the opposing side's counsel stated the case is not about the state's waiver.
Justice Ginsburg questioned whether the lower court opinion mandated the dismissal or allowed it.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 45-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-5
- 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 27-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 13-54 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 13-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-9
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case involves a prisoner seeking release from state custody. The state argued the petition arrived too late. The lower court dismissed the petition without the state formally raising the deadline issue. The prisoner argues the state gave up this defense by not raising it earlier.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 45-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 21-11
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 27, 2006.
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 58, lines 13-54 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 13-54
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the dismissal overturned because the state waived the deadline defense.
the opposing side wants the dismissal to stand because the petition was filed late.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 45-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 21-11
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the state gave up the deadline defense by not raising it early.
the opposing side argues the judge can independently dismiss late petitions to protect the system.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 45-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 21-11
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if the lower court opinion used the word must or could.
Justice Kennedy asked if the district court has discretion to refer the case to the state.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 13-54 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 13-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-9
Why it matters
This case defines the power of federal judges to enforce filing deadlines. It affects how states defend against late petitions. It shapes the balance between finality and access to courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 45-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 21-11
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 10, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-19
- 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 27-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 13-54 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 13-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-9
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 29, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 45-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 45-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 21-11
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.