October Term 2013 · Docket 12-895
Does aiding a crime require intent to use a gun?
The dispute centers on whether a person who helps commit a crime must intend for that crime to involve a firearm to face enhanced charges.
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. Elwood argued that aiding and abetting requires purposeful intent to facilitate the crime.
Mr. Elwood stated that mere knowing assistance is insufficient for liability.
Justice Scalia questioned if knowing a crime involves firearms is enough for liability.
Justice Alito asked if the aider learns about the gun after the crime happens.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 41-3 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 41-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 33-41
- 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 47-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 51-4 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 51-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-9
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the mental state required for accomplice liability. the side that brought the case argues that knowing a gun is present is not enough. The government argues that knowing a gun is present satisfies the legal standard.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 41-3 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 41-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 17-33
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 12, 2013.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 51-4 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 51-4
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the conviction overturned because the jury did not find intent to facilitate gun use.
The government wants the conviction to stand because the side that brought the case knew a gun was present during the crime.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 41-3 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 41-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 17-33
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues that accomplice liability requires purposeful intent to encourage the specific crime of using a firearm.
The government argues that knowing a crime is being conducted with firearms is sufficient for liability.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 41-3 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 41-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 17-33
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if knowing a crime involves firearms is enough for liability.
Justice Alito asked if the aider learns about the gun after the crime happens.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 51-4 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 51-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-9
Why it matters
This case defines the mental state needed for accomplice liability. It determines when a helper faces charges for a crime involving a weapon. The outcome shapes how prosecutors prove intent in joint criminal activities.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 41-3 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 41-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 17-33
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 33-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 33-41
- 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 47-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 51-4 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 51-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-9
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 16, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 41-3 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 41-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 41-3 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 41-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 17-33
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.