October Term 2019 · Docket 18-1109
Does a new sentencing law require a fresh trial for a death row inmate?
James McKinney argues his death sentence violates current law. Arizona claims the error does not require a new trial.
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 argued McKinney never had a compliant sentencing.
Skinner argued one path resolves the case regardless of outcome.
Kavanaugh questioned why adding an invalid factor differs from excluding a valid one.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 50-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 12-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 50-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 44-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-38 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 8-38
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
James McKinney faces execution in Arizona. He claims his sentencing violated current law. The state argues the error does not require a new trial. The Court must decide if a new proceeding is mandatory.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 12-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 40-44
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 11, 2019.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 46-48
What each side wants
McKinney wants a new sentencing proceeding under current law.
Arizona wants to keep the existing death sentence intact.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 12-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 40-44
What each side says
McKinney argues the state must apply new sentencing rules.
Arizona argues the error does not invalidate the sentence.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 12-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 40-44
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if the case needs a remand.
Justice Kavanaugh questioned the difference between adding and removing factors.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 50-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 50-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 44-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-38 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 8-38
Why it matters
This case defines how courts handle sentencing errors. It determines if inmates get new trials under new laws. It affects the fairness of death penalty proceedings nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 12-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 40-44
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 12-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 50-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 50-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 44-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-38 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 8-38
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 33, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 12-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 12-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 40-44
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.