October Term 2010 · Docket 09-587
Does a one-line state court denial count as a merits decision?
the side that brought the case seeks federal habeas relief. the opposing side argues the state court already decided the claim on the merits.
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. Colombo argued the state court denial deserves deference.
Mr. Gardner addressed the application of AEDPA in this case.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 39-37 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 39-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 47-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests how federal courts review state court denials. The core issue is whether a brief order counts as a merits decision.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 39-37 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 39-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-33
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 12, 2010.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-27
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the federal court to grant habeas relief.
the opposing side wants the federal court to deny habeas relief.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 39-37 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 39-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-33
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the state court did not decide the claim on the merits.
the opposing side argues the state court decision deserves deferential review.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 39-37 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 39-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-33
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked how to interpret a one-line denial order.
Justice Ginsburg asked if the state court reached the specific question.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 47-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-13
Why it matters
This case defines the standard for federal review of state court orders. It clarifies when a brief denial counts as a merits decision. This affects the scope of federal habeas review.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 39-37 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 39-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-33
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 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 47-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-13
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 26, lines 39-37 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 39-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 39-37 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 39-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 29-33
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.