October Term 2019 · Docket 18-217
Does Miller apply to discretionary life sentences?
Lee Malvo argues his life sentence violates Miller. Virginia says his sentence was discretionary.
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
Malvo's counsel argued Miller controls the case.
Virginia's counsel argued the sentence was discretionary.
Justices questioned the nature of the sentencing discretion.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 41-37 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 41-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 53-23 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 53-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 27-49 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 27-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-1 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-41 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-19
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Lee Malvo received a life sentence for the D.C. sniper attacks. He argues Miller makes that sentence invalid. Virginia says the sentence allowed for discretion.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-1 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-1
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 16, 2019.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-13
What each side wants
Malvo wants the Court to apply Miller to his sentence.
Virginia wants the Court to reject that application.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-1 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-1
What each side says
Malvo claims Miller and Montgomery control this case.
Virginia claims the sentence was not mandatory.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-1 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-1
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked about retroactivity under Teague.
Justice Ginsburg asked why the sentences were not mandatory.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 41-37 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 41-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 53-23 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 53-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 27-49 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 27-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-41 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-19
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of Miller. It affects how courts treat life sentences for juveniles. It clarifies the meaning of mandatory sentencing.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-1 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-1
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 7-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 41-37 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 41-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 53-23 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 53-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 27-49 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 27-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-41 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-19
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 9-9 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-1 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-1 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-1
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.