October Term 2008 · Docket 07-10374
Can New York Block Federal Prisoner Lawsuits in State Courts?
Prisoners argue New York bars federal claims. The State claims its law complies with federal rules.
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 New York law blocks federal claims.
The State argues its law satisfies federal requirements.
questions_and_answers
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 39-9
- 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 3-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 37-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 37-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-47
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests state court access for federal claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-27
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 3, 2008.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 3-9
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants to sue in state court under federal law.
The State wants to keep federal claims out of its courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-27
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the state law discriminates against federal claims.
The State argues its law treats federal and state claims equally.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-27
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the issue is jurisdictional.
Justice Kennedy asked if the state can offer a damages alternative.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 37-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 37-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-47
Why it matters
Prisoners need a forum to seek damages for rights violations. States control access to their courts for federal claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-27
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 11, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-51
- 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 3-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 37-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 37-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-47
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 25, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-27
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.