October Term 2008 · Docket 07-8521
Does federal habeas counsel cover state post-conviction appeals?
the sides that brought the case seek federal funding for state appeals. the opposing sides argue the statute limits aid to federal courts.
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
Ms. Chavis argued the statute mandates counsel for state appeals.
Mr. Jay argued the statute limits aid to federal proceedings.
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 3, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-45
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on statutory interpretation. the sides that brought the case want federal funds for state appeals. the opposing sides want to limit funding to federal proceedings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-27
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 12, 2009.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-31
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want federal funding for state post-conviction appeals.
the opposing sides want to limit federal funding to federal proceedings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-27
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the statute mandates counsel for state appeals.
the opposing sides argue the statute text limits aid to federal courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-27
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked about state retry deadlines.
Justice Scalia questioned the logic of the sides that brought the case' view.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-45
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of federal legal aid. It determines who pays for state appeals. It affects the rights of death row inmates.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-27
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 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-45
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 3, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-27
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.