October Term 2015 · Docket 14-1457
Does the speedy trial right cover sentencing delays?
The dispute centers on whether the constitutional right to a speedy trial extends to the sentencing phase of a criminal case.
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. Anders argued that due process analysis adequately addresses potential defense impairments at sentencing.
Mr. Schowengerdt argued that the clause's purpose is to protect presumptively innocent defendants from charge-related harms.
Mr. Rowley argued that the speedy trial clause applies through the culmination of a criminal prosecution in sentencing.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 40-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 40-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 40-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 42-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 42-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 6-48 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 6-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 46-4 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 46-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 42-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 50-10 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 50-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-8 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 30-8
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case examines the scope of the Sixth Amendment. The core issue is whether the right to a speedy trial ends when a defendant is found guilty or continues through sentencing.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 6-48 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 6-48
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 28, 2016.
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 side that brought the case wants the Court to recognize that the speedy trial right covers sentencing delays.
The state wants the Court to limit the speedy trial right to the trial phase only.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 6-48 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 6-48
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the right protects defendants from prolonged uncertainty until the case concludes with sentencing.
The state argues the right protects only presumptively innocent defendants from the harms of a pending charge.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 6-48 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 6-48
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if the Federal Speedy Trial Act covers sentencing or only trial.
Justice Kagan asked how the Court applies the four-factor test to sentencing delays.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 40-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 40-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 40-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 42-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 42-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 46-4 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 46-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 42-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 50-10 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 50-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-8 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 30-8
Why it matters
This case defines the timeline for constitutional protections. It determines when a defendant can challenge delays. It affects how courts manage the pace of criminal proceedings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 6-48 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 6-48
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 40-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 40-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 40-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 42-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 42-48
- 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 46-4 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 46-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 42-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 50-10 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 50-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-8 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 30-8
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 19, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 6-48 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 6-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 6-48 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 6-48
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.