October Term 2008 · Docket 08-88
Does a state court's delay violate a defendant's speedy trial rights?
Vermont argues court delays are not state faults. Brillon claims these delays violate his 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
Ms. Rainville argued for reversing the Vermont Supreme Court.
She cited four legal reasons for the reversal.
Justice Roberts questioned the lower court concession.
He asked about systemic state hiring issues.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 49-41 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 49-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-41
- 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 15-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-29
- 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 9-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-3
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether state court delays count as state actions. This affects how courts handle slow trials.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 49-41 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 49-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-43
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 13, 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
Vermont wants the Court to reject Brillon's delay claim.
Brillon wants the Court to reverse the lower court decision.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 49-41 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 49-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-43
What each side says
Vermont argues court misfeasance is not state fault.
Brillon argues systemic state problems caused the delay.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 49-41 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 49-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-43
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if court errors are state errors.
Chief Justice Roberts asked about systemic hiring problems.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-29
- 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 9-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-3
Why it matters
This defines state responsibility for court delays. It shapes future speedy trial claims nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 49-41 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 49-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-43
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 45-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-41
- 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 15-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-29
- 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 9-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-3
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 19, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 49-41 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 49-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 49-41 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 49-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-43
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.