October Term 2013 · Docket 12-609
Can the State compel a defendant to speak to its expert?
Kansas seeks to use Cheever's compelled statements. Cheever argues this violates his Fifth Amendment rights.
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
Katyal argues the state used Cheever's words to execute him.
Saharsky argues the state may rebut mental state claims with its own expert.
Schmidt argues the Simmons precedent does not apply to these facts.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 35-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 35-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-9
- 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 11-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 45-29 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 45-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-43
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Kansas wants to execute Cheever using his words. Cheever wants to suppress those words. The dispute centers on the scope of a Fifth Amendment waiver.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 35-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 35-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 31-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 16, 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 59, lines 3-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-25
What each side wants
Kansas wants to execute Cheever using his compelled statements.
Cheever wants to suppress his compelled statements.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 35-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 35-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 31-37
What each side says
Kansas argues the state may rebut mental state claims with its own expert.
Cheever argues the prosecution exceeded the scope of his Fifth Amendment waiver.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 35-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 35-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 31-37
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asks if the issue is unconstitutional compulsion.
Justice Scalia asks if the state can compel speech to its expert.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 45-29 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 45-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-43
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of state power to compel defendant testimony. It protects the right against self-incrimination during criminal proceedings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 35-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 35-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 31-37
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 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 45-29 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 45-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-43
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 17, lines 35-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 35-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 35-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 35-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 31-37
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.