October Term 2009 · Docket 08-724
Did Ohio's highest court wrongly apply federal law to deny a death row inmate's appeal?
The dispute centers on whether Ohio's highest court unreasonably applied federal standards when it denied a death row inmate's appeal.
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
General Cordray argued the state court's decision was contrary to federal precedent.
Mr. Benza argued trial counsel presented improper aggravating factors to the jury.
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Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-13
- 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 45-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-35
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case involves a death row inmate challenging his conviction. The core issue is whether the state court's decision violated federal law regarding ineffective assistance of counsel.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-7
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 13, 2009.
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 59, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-13
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the federal court to find the state court's decision unreasonable under federal law.
the opposing side wants the federal court to uphold the state court's application of federal law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-7
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the state court unreasonably applied the Strickland standard for ineffective assistance of counsel.
the opposing side argues the state court correctly applied federal law and independently reweighed sentencing factors.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-7
What the justices asked
Justice Stevens asked which part of the Strickland test the state court relied upon.
Justice Stevens asked if the side that brought the case's argument depends on deference to the state court or fresh prejudice analysis.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-35
Why it matters
This case determines how federal courts review state court decisions on ineffective assistance of counsel claims in death penalty cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-7
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 51-5 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-13
- 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 45-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-35
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 20, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-7
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.