October Term 2008 · Docket 07-772
What mental state must an accomplice possess for a homicide conviction?
The dispute centers on the specific knowledge required for accomplice liability in homicide cases.
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 side that brought the case's counsel argued the state court decision was objectively unreasonable.
the opposing side's counsel argued the state court decision was reasonable.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-3
- 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 17-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-7
- 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 13-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-27
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case examines the constitutional minimum for accomplice liability in homicide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-3
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 15, 2008.
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 side that brought the case seeks reversal of the lower court decision.
the opposing side seeks affirmation of the lower court decision.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-3
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the state court decision was objectively unreasonable.
the opposing side argues the state court decision was reasonable.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-3
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked about the constitutional minimum for accomplice scienter.
Justice Ginsburg asked what specific knowledge the state requires for homicide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-7
- 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 13-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-27
Why it matters
This case defines the mental state required for accomplice liability in homicide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-3
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 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-7
- 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 13-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-27
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 51-21 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-3
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.