October Term 2008 · Docket 07-9995
Does a state judge's error in seating a juror require automatic federal reversal?
Rivera argues a state judge wrongly seated a juror. Illinois says this error did not violate federal rights.
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
Rivera's lawyer said the judge wrongly kept a juror.
He argued this error voids the jury's judgment.
Illinois's lawyer said the error did not break federal law.
He argued harmless error rules should apply here.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-15
- 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 31-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 35-31 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 35-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Rivera claims a state judge wrongly seated a juror. He wants a new trial. Illinois says the error did not break federal law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 35-31 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 35-31
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 23, 2009.
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
Rivera wants an automatic new trial because the judge erred.
Illinois wants the conviction to stand because no federal right broke.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 35-31 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 35-31
What each side says
Rivera argues the judge's error voids the jury's power.
Illinois argues the error only broke state law rules.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 35-31 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 35-31
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked if this rule covers all state jury errors.
Justice Kennedy asked if this rule burdens state court systems.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-13
Why it matters
This case defines when federal courts must fix state jury mistakes. It shapes how states manage their trial courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 35-31 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 35-31
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 35-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-15
- 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 31-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-13
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 51-7 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 35-31 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 35-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 35-31 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 35-31
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.