October Term 2011 · Docket 11-199
Does harmless error review require a rational jury or the actual jury?
The dispute centers on which jury standard applies when courts review trial errors.
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
Mr. Yang asserted the inquiry turns on whether a rational jury would convict.
Mr. Brindley addressed the government's reliance on prior precedent.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 14-28 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 14-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 36-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 36-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-36 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 14-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 14-22 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 14-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 4-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 44-50
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case asks how courts should evaluate trial errors. The government argues for a rational jury standard. the side that brought the case argues for the actual jury standard.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 36-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 36-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 4-12
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 21, 2012.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 14-22 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 14-22
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to apply the actual jury standard.
The government wants the Court to apply the rational jury standard.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 36-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 36-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 4-12
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the focus must be on the specific jury that heard the case.
The government argues the focus should be on a hypothetical rational jury.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 36-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 36-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 4-12
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if the difference is between a rational jury and this particular jury.
Justice Roberts asked where the government brief supports the rational jury test.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 14-28 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 14-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-36 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 14-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 14-22 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 14-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 4-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 44-50
Why it matters
This standard determines how courts weigh trial errors. It affects the finality of criminal convictions. It shapes the scope of appellate review.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 36-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 36-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 4-12
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 14-28 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 14-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-36 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 14-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 14-22 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 14-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-30 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 4-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 44-50
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 28, lines 36-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 36-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 36-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 36-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 4-12
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.