October Term 2012 · Docket 11-9335
Who decides facts triggering mandatory minimums?
the side that brought the case seeks jury findings for mandatory minimums. Government seeks judge findings.
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
the side that brought the case argued the Sixth Amendment requires jury findings for mandatory minimums.
Government argued prior precedent allows judges to find these facts.
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 26, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- 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 49-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-15
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on who finds facts for mandatory minimums. the side that brought the case wants a jury. Government wants a judge.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 14, 2013.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants a jury to find facts beyond reasonable doubt.
Government wants a judge to find facts by preponderance.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the Sixth Amendment requires jury findings for mandatory minimums.
Government argues prior precedent allows judges to find these facts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if McMillan was a Sixth Amendment case.
Justice Sotomayor asked how many federal courts charge these facts to juries.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- 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 49-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-15
Why it matters
This case defines the jury's role in sentencing. It determines who finds facts for mandatory minimums. It affects criminal sentencing procedures nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
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 35-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- 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 49-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-15
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 25-37 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
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.