October Term 2005 · Docket 05-7053
Who must prove a defendant acted under duress?
The dispute centers on which party bears the burden of proof for the duress defense.
Verified source milestones
- — 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
Mr. Jett argued the government must disprove duress beyond a reasonable doubt.
Mr. Gornstein argued the defendant must prove duress because it is an affirmative defense.
Justice Souter questioned whether the defendant freely chooses to commit the crime.
Justice Souter asked what the added element of the defense is.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-54 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 19-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 1-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 1-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-37
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case asks who must prove the facts of a duress defense.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-54 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 19-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-9
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 25, 2006.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the government to disprove duress beyond a reasonable doubt.
The government wants the defendant to prove duress by a preponderance of the evidence.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-54 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 19-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-9
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues duress is an affirmative defense that excuses criminal conduct.
The government argues the defendant must prove the defense because it excuses serious conduct.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-54 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 19-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-9
What the justices asked
Justice Souter asked what the added element of the defense is.
Justice Souter asked if the defendant chooses to commit the crime despite pressure.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 1-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 1-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-37
Why it matters
This case defines the standard for proving a defendant acted under threat.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-54 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 19-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-9
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 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 1-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 1-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-37
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 19-54 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 19-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-54 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 19-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-9
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.