October Term 2015 · Docket 14-452
Do jury instructions that confuse the burden of proof violate the Eighth Amendment?
Kansas argues the instructions were clear. The defendant argues they create a risk of ignoring mitigating evidence.
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. Schmidt argued the sentences do not offend the Eighth Amendment.
Mr. Schmidt stated each juror could give meaningful effect to mitigating evidence.
Mr. Katyal argued the instructions create a reasonable likelihood of misinterpretation.
Mr. Katyal claimed this ambiguity is impermissible under the Eighth Amendment.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 10-46 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 10-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 46-24 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 46-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 48-1 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 48-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-6 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 42-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 50-24 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 50-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 32-38 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 32-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 48-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 30-42 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 30-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 42-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 42-1
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case concerns jury instructions in a death penalty trial. The instructions told jurors how to weigh evidence that might reduce the sentence. The parties disagree on whether these instructions were clear enough to satisfy federal constitutional standards.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 10-46 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 10-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 46-24 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 46-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 42-46
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 7, 2015.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 26-32
What each side wants
Kansas wants the Supreme Court to confirm the lower court's finding that the instructions were constitutional.
The defendant wants the Supreme Court to find the instructions violated the Eighth Amendment and require a new trial.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 10-46 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 10-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 46-24 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 46-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 42-46
What each side says
Kansas argues the instructions allowed jurors to give meaningful effect to all mitigating evidence presented.
The defendant argues the instructions are so confusing that juries might wrongly ignore mitigating evidence.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 10-46 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 10-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 46-24 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 46-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 42-46
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if the lower court relied on inadmissible hearsay prejudice in a prior case.
Justice Scalia asked if the Court should look only at what the lower court explicitly stated regarding the Eighth Amendment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 48-1 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 48-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-6 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 42-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 50-24 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 50-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 32-38 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 32-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 48-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 30-42 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 30-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 42-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 42-1
Why it matters
This case determines how clearly states must explain jury instructions in death penalty trials. It affects whether jurors can properly weigh evidence that might spare a defendant's life. Clear instructions protect the right to a fair sentencing process.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 10-46 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 10-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 46-24 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 46-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 42-46
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 4, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 48-1 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 48-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-6 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 42-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 50-24 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 50-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 32-38 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 32-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 48-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 30-42 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 30-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 42-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 42-1
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 10-46 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 10-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 46-24 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 46-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 10-46 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 10-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 46-24 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 46-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 42-46
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.