October Term 2009 · Docket 07-11191
Does Virginia's witness statute violate the confrontation clause?
the sides that brought the case argue Virginia's law fails to guarantee witness presence. The state claims its statute satisfies constitutional requirements.
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. Friedman argued the stakes are high in this case.
Mr. Friedman stated Virginia knows how to write a good notice-and-demand statute.
Ms. Kruger argued a state safeguards confrontation rights by guaranteeing witness presence.
Ms. Kruger stated the state must bring the analyst into court for cross-examination.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- 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 41-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 19-31
- 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 31-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 7-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether a state statute satisfies the confrontation clause. The dispute centers on witness availability during trial.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 7-31
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 11, 2010.
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 62, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 33-39
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to strike down the Virginia statute.
Virginia wants the Court to uphold its witness statute.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 7-31
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the statute fails to guarantee witness presence.
Virginia argues its statute adequately safeguards confrontation rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 7-31
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked why the state interpretation overrules Melendez-Diaz.
Justice Sotomayor asked if the state has an affirmative obligation to place witnesses on the stand.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-39
- 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 31-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-13
Why it matters
This case defines the minimum state obligations for witness availability. It clarifies how states must structure their trial procedures. The outcome shapes future criminal prosecutions nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 7-31
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 3, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-49
- 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 17-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-39
- 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 31-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-13
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 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 7-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 7-31
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.