October Term 2022 · Docket 21-442
When does a federal claim against a state statute begin?
Reed argues his claim starts when state litigation ends. Goertz argues it starts when the statute passes.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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
Reed's counsel argued the claim accrues after state DNA testing litigation ends.
Goertz's counsel argued Reed's claim is barred by jurisdiction and time limits.
Justice Sotomayor questioned the distinction between judgment enforceability and finality.
Justice Alito asked whether a party can sue before a claim accrues.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 35-21 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 35-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests when a federal claim against a state law begins. The timing determines if the claim is too late.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 35-21 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 35-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-49
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 11, 2022.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-53
What each side wants
Reed wants the Court to say his claim started after state litigation ended.
Goertz wants the Court to say his claim started when the statute passed.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 35-21 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 35-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-49
What each side says
Reed argues his claim challenges the law itself, not a specific court judgment.
Goertz argues Reed sued the wrong party and missed the filing deadline.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 35-21 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 35-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-49
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if enforceability differs from finality of a judgment.
Justice Alito asked if a party can sue before a claim accrues.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-13
Why it matters
This dispute defines when federal courts can review state laws. It sets the deadline for challenging state statutes in federal court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 35-21 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 35-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-49
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 23-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-13
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 35-21 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 35-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 35-21 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 35-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-49
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.