October Term 2008 · Docket 07-1114
Does a state court's alternate holding bar federal habeas review of a Brady claim?
the side that brought the case argues the state court relied on federalism grounds. the opposing side claims the state court found no Brady violation on the merits.
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
Mr. Goldstein argued two things are uncontested in the case.
He stated the side that brought the case is on death row, not in solitary confinement.
He described the dilemma the Court faces in disposing of the case.
Chief Justice Roberts noted the state court opinion discussed federalism issues.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-49
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case concerns federal habeas corpus review. The core dispute is whether a state court's alternate holding prevents federal courts from reviewing a Brady claim. the side that brought the case seeks federal review of the claim. the opposing side argues the state court resolved the claim on the merits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 17-11
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 9, 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 15-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-17
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Supreme Court to review the Brady claim on the merits.
the opposing side wants the Supreme Court to affirm the lower court's conclusion that no Brady violation occurred.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 17-11
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the state court's alternate holding on federalism allows federal review of the Brady claim.
the opposing side argues the state court's holding that the documents were not Brady material resolves the claim on the merits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 17-11
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked when the conviction and death sentence were pronounced.
Chief Justice Roberts asked why procedural issues are before the Court if the merits are resolved.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-49
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of federal habeas review. It determines when federal courts can examine state court decisions. The outcome affects the rights of death row inmates. It clarifies the relationship between state and federal courts in habeas cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 17-11
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 25-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-49
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 28, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 17-11
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.