October Term 2015 · Docket 14-8349
Did prosecutors strike black jurors based on race?
The dispute centers on whether prosecutors used race to exclude jurors.
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
the side that brought the case's counsel claimed prosecutors targeted black jurors.
The state's counsel argued the side that brought the case bears the burden of proof.
Justice Kennedy questioned the nature of the legal bar involved.
Justice Alito inquired about the scope of state court review.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 28-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 28-34
- 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 22-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 48-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 48-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 52-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 24-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 42-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 24-36 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 24-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 42-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 42-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-46 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 36-46
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the limits of federal review for state habeas claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 24-14
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 2, 2015.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 16-18
What each side wants
the side that brought the case seeks a new trial based on racial bias.
The state seeks to uphold the conviction and deny relief.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 24-14
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues prosecutors intended to strike all black jurors.
The state argues the side that brought the case failed to prove clear error.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 24-14
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if the res judicata bar is a state law question.
Justice Alito asked how the court handles short state opinions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 28-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 28-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 48-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 48-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 52-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 42-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 24-36 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 24-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 42-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 42-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-46 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 36-46
Why it matters
This case defines the standard for proving racial bias in jury selection.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 24-14
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 8-12 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 28-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 28-34
- 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 22-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 48-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 48-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 52-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 52-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 42-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 24-36 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 24-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 42-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 42-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-46 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 36-46
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 26, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 24-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 24-14 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 24-14
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.