October Term 2015 · Docket 14-449
Does joint sentencing violate the Eighth Amendment?
Kansas argues joint sentencing is constitutional. The defendants claim it violates their 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
Ms. Kovner argued the Kansas Supreme Court erred.
Mr. McAllister argued each defendant received individualized sentencing.
Mr. Green highlighted differences in mitigation evidence.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 14-22 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 14-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-50 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 46-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-28 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 20-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 32-48 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 32-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 48-20 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 48-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 10-32 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 10-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 26-38 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 26-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 14-10 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 14-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-24 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 24-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 28-32
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether joint sentencing violates the Eighth Amendment. Kansas argues the process is fair. The defendants claim it is unfair.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 48-20 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 48-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 10-32 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 10-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 26-38 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 26-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 14-10 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 14-10
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 7, 2015.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 14-10 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 14-10
What each side wants
Kansas wants the Court to uphold the joint sentencing.
The defendants want the Court to reverse the lower court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 48-20 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 48-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 10-32 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 10-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 26-38 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 26-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 14-10 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 14-10
What each side says
Kansas argues joint sentencing enhances accuracy and fairness.
The defendants argue joint sentencing prevents individualized sentencing.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 48-20 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 48-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 10-32 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 10-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 26-38 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 26-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 14-10 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 14-10
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if the issue applies only to the penalty phase.
Justice Sotomayor asked what constitutional standard the Court should apply.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 14-22 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 14-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-50 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 46-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-28 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 20-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 32-48 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 32-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-24 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 24-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 28-32
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of joint criminal sentencing. It affects how courts handle multiple defendants. It shapes future Eighth Amendment interpretations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 48-20 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 48-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 10-32 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 10-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 26-38 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 26-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 14-10 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 14-10
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 14-22 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 14-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-50 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 46-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-28 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 20-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 32-48 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 32-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 14-10 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 14-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-24 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 24-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 28-32
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 48-20 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 48-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 10-32 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 10-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 26-38 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 26-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 14-10 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 14-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 48-20 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 48-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 10-32 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 10-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 26-38 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 26-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 14-10 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 14-10
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.