October Term 2006 · Docket 05-595
Should new constitutional rules apply to old prison cases?
the sides that brought the case seek to block a new rule. the opposing sides demand its application.
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
the sides that brought the case claim the new rule does not meet strict standards.
the opposing sides claim the new rule is a fundamental watershed change.
Chief Justice Roberts questioned the relationship between the new rule and existing statutes.
Justice Scalia emphasized the equitable nature of habeas corpus relief.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-9
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether a new legal standard applies to old convictions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 1, 2006.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the new rule to stay out of old cases.
the opposing sides want the new rule to fix their conviction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the new rule fails strict retroactivity tests.
the opposing sides argue the new rule is a fundamental watershed change.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the new rule is contrary to established law.
Justice Scalia asked if habeas relief allows broad judicial discretion.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-9
Why it matters
This dispute defines the reach of new constitutional rights in prison.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
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 51-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-9
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 17, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
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.