October Term 2011 · Docket 10-9995
Can a state waive a deadline to block a prisoner's federal appeal?
Prisoners argue states cannot waive filing deadlines. States argue they can waive them if they choose.
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
Ms. Lord argued the lower court denied relief solely for lateness.
Mr. Domenico argued two straightforward rules resolve the case.
Ms. Arbus Sherry argued prior decisions answer the first question.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 14-42 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 14-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 50-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 50-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 46-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-44 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 28-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-36 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 14-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 8-12
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether a state can give up a legal deadline. If yes, prisoners lose a strict time limit. If no, states must enforce the deadline strictly.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 14-42 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 14-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 46-8
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 27, 2012.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
What each side wants
The prisoner wants the court to say states cannot waive deadlines.
The state wants the court to say states can waive deadlines.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 14-42 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 14-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 46-8
What each side says
The prisoner argues long-standing rules require strict deadline enforcement.
The state argues prior cases allow states to waive deadlines.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 14-42 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 14-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 46-8
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if prior cases support the state's view.
Justice Sotomayor asked if this is a power or discretion issue.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 50-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 50-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-44 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 28-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-36 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 14-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 8-12
Why it matters
This defines state power over federal court deadlines. It affects every prisoner seeking federal review. It sets a national standard for filing limits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 14-42 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 14-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 46-8
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 50-10 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 50-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-44 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 28-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-36 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 14-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 8-12
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 23, lines 14-42 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 14-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 46-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 14-42 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 14-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 46-8
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.