October Term 2005 · Docket 04-8990
Does blood on jeans prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt?
The case tests if blood on jeans proves guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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 argues the blood evidence is inconclusive.
the opposing side argues the blood proves guilt.
questions
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-25 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 41-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-54
- 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 27-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 9-43 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 9-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-23
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on whether blood on jeans proves guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-25 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 41-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 9-43 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 9-43
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 11, 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 45-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-47
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the conviction overturned.
the opposing side wants the conviction upheld.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-25 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 41-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 9-43 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 9-43
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the blood evidence is inconclusive.
the opposing side argues the blood proves guilt.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-25 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 41-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 9-43 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 9-43
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if the district court found the blood not from a spill.
Justice Scalia asked if the side that brought the case claims the district court was clearly erroneous.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-23
Why it matters
This case defines how courts weigh physical evidence in criminal trials.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-25 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 41-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 9-43 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 9-43
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 21-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-54
- 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 27-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-23
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 41-25 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 41-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 9-43 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 9-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 41-25 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 41-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 9-43 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 9-43
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.