October Term 2010 · Docket 09-9000
Can prisoners sue in federal court for DNA evidence access?
A prisoner seeks federal court access to DNA evidence. The state denies this request.
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
Robert Owen argued the Civil Rights Act permits this federal claim.
He stated the only issue is federal court access to evidence.
Justice Alito questioned if the claim avoids Rooker-Feldman doctrine.
He noted habeas corpus is not subject to claim preclusion.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-7
- 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 25-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-15
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests federal court jurisdiction over prisoner evidence claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 9-9
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 13, 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 57, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-25
What each side wants
The prisoner wants federal court access to DNA evidence.
The state wants the federal court to dismiss the case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 9-9
What each side says
The prisoner argues the Civil Rights Act allows this federal claim.
The state argues federal courts cannot hear this specific evidence claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 9-9
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if the claim avoids Rooker-Feldman doctrine.
Justice Sotomayor asked how this differs from the Alaska rule in Osborne.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-15
Why it matters
This case defines federal court power over prisoner evidence requests. It shapes access to DNA testing for inmates. It clarifies the boundary between state and federal judicial authority.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 9-9
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 23-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-7
- 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 25-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-15
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 28, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 9-9
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.