October Term 2009 · Docket 08-1175
Does a state court exceed federal limits by expanding Miranda rights?
Florida argues the state supreme court wrongly expanded federal rights. Powell argues the state court properly protected 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
Florida argues the state court misapplied the analysis.
Powell argues the state court correctly interpreted state law.
Florida argues the state court misapplied the analysis.
Powell argues the state court correctly interpreted state law.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 29-15 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 29-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-15
- 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 45-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-39
- 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 19-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-11
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on whether a state supreme court can interpret state constitutional rights more broadly than the federal standard. Florida claims the state court erred in suppressing a confession. Powell claims the state court correctly protected his rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 29-15 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 29-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-3
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 7, 2009.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-15
What each side wants
Florida wants the Court to reverse the state court decision.
Powell wants the Court to affirm the state court decision.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 29-15 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 29-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-3
What each side says
Florida argues the state court misapplied federal law.
Powell argues the state court correctly interpreted state law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 29-15 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 29-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-3
What the justices asked
Justice Stevens asked if the state court ruling went beyond federal limits.
Justice Scalia asked if justices must campaign on expanded rights.
Official sources for this section
- 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 45-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-39
- 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 19-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-11
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary between state and federal constitutional rights. It determines how states can protect citizens beyond federal minimums. It impacts how courts handle confessions in state trials.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 29-15 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 29-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 4, 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 4, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-15
- 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 45-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-39
- 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 19-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-11
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 21, lines 29-15 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 29-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 29-15 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 29-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 4, 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.