October Term 2012 · Docket 12-126
Does a prisoner's delay bar a claim of actual innocence?
The dispute centers on whether a prisoner's late filing defeats a claim of actual innocence.
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. Readler cited Holland to support incorporating equitable rules into the statute.
Mr. Bursch argued that the statute lacks a specific tolling rule for this situation.
Mr. Bursch noted that Congress remained silent on equitable tolling in the prior case.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 37-13 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 37-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
- 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 25-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-3
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of equitable tolling under federal habeas statutes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 37-13 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 37-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 11-33
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 25, 2013.
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 64, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 39-5
What each side wants
the side that brought the case seeks a ruling that allows the actual innocence claim to proceed.
the opposing side seeks a ruling that bars the claim due to the filing delay.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 37-13 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 37-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 11-33
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues that equitable principles incorporate diligence requirements into the statute.
the opposing side argues that the statute contains no provision for equitable tolling in this context.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 37-13 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 37-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 11-33
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked whether the side that brought the case argued the diligence issue in the Sixth Circuit.
Justice Kennedy asked how the system handles multiple successive petitions over time.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-7
- 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 25-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-3
Why it matters
The outcome defines the procedural limits for prisoners seeking relief based on innocence.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 37-13 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 37-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 11-33
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 10, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-7
- 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 25-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-3
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 29, lines 37-13 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 37-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 37-13 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 37-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 11-33
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.