October Term 2011 · Docket 10-8145
Did prosecutors hide key witness statements?
Smith claims prosecutors hid witness statements that could have weakened the case against him.
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
Smith's lawyer argued the prosecution hid evidence that would have shown a witness was unreliable.
The state's lawyer argued the witness was credible and the hidden statements did not affect the verdict.
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 10, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
- 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 49-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-1
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Smith argues the state withheld evidence that would have shown a witness was unreliable. The state argues the witness was credible and the hidden statements did not change the outcome.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 8, 2011.
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
Smith wants the Court to find the hidden evidence changed the trial result.
The state wants the Court to uphold the conviction and deny relief.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
What each side says
Smith argues the prosecution violated its duty to share favorable evidence with the defense.
The state argues the witness was credible and the hidden statements did not affect the verdict.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked who determines if a statement is a dying declaration.
Justice Kennedy asked if specific statements were provided to defense counsel.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-1
Why it matters
This case defines how much evidence prosecutors must share with the defense. It affects the fairness of criminal trials nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
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 51-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 17-33
- 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 49-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-1
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 25, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
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.