October Term 2015 · Docket 14-280
Does the Supreme Court have jurisdiction to apply a new federal rule to state prisoners?
The dispute centers on whether the Court can decide if a new federal rule applies to state prisoners.
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. Bernstein argued the Court should decide the issue now.
Mr. Dreeben argued Louisiana voluntarily incorporated a federal standard.
Mr. Plaisance argued the state court relied exclusively on federal law.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 26-48 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 26-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 48-22 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 48-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 42-32 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 42-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-28 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 28-48 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 28-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 22-28 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 22-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 32-32 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 32-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 42-4 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 42-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 12-12 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 12-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 42-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 42-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 8-8 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 8-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 8-24 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 8-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 32-12 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 32-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 12-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 48-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 48-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 40-46
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the Court's power to apply federal rules to state cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 48-22 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 48-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 42-32 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 42-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 8-24 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 8-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 32-12 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 32-12
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 13, 2015.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 14-24
What each side wants
One side wants the Court to decide the case now.
The other side wants the Court to decline jurisdiction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 48-22 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 48-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 42-32 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 42-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 8-24 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 8-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 32-12 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 32-12
What each side says
One side argues Louisiana adopted a federal standard.
The other side argues the Court lacks jurisdiction here.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 48-22 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 48-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 42-32 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 42-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 8-24 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 8-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 32-12 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 32-12
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if the Supremacy Clause binds states only in direct criminal cases.
Justice Sotomayor asked how this case differs from Standard Oil.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 26-48 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 26-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-28 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 28-48 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 28-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 22-28 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 22-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 32-32 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 32-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 42-4 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 42-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 12-12 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 12-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 42-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 42-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 8-8 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 8-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 12-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 48-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 48-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 40-46
Why it matters
This case defines the Court's power over state criminal law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 48-22 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 48-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 42-32 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 42-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 8-24 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 8-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 32-12 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 32-12
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 26-48 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 26-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-28 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 28-48 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 28-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 22-28 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 22-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 32-44 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 32-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 32-32 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 32-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 42-4 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 42-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 12-12 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 12-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 42-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 42-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 8-8 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 8-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 12-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 48-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 48-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 40-46
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 13, lines 48-22 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 48-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 42-32 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 42-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 8-24 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 8-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 32-12 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 32-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 48-22 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 48-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 42-32 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 42-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 8-24 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 8-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 32-12 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 32-12
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.