October Term 2009 · Docket 08-9156
Did the state court wrongly reject a claim that defense counsel failed to investigate mental health evidence?
Holly Wood argues his lawyers ignored mental health evidence. The state says they made a smart strategic choice.
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
Kerry Scanlon argued Wood's lawyers failed to investigate mental health evidence.
He stated this failure deprived the jury of critical sentencing information.
The state argued counsel made an intelligent decision to limit evidence.
They claimed presenting more evidence might have hurt the defendant's case.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 21-43
- 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 43-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-49
- 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 3-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-9
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Wood v. Allen
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 4, 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
Wood wants the Court to find his lawyers failed to investigate key evidence.
The state wants the Court to uphold the lower court's rejection of his claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
What each side says
Wood argues his lawyers ignored undisputed mental deficiencies during sentencing.
The state argues counsel made an intelligent decision to avoid harmful evidence.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the state court ruled on prejudice under Strickland.
Justice Sotomayor asked if the case involves a strategic decision or performance issue.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-9
Why it matters
This case defines how courts judge lawyer performance in death penalty trials. It clarifies when failing to investigate evidence violates constitutional rights. The outcome shapes future standards for evaluating defense counsel's strategic choices.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
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 43-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-49
- 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 3-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-9
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 13, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
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.