October Term 2015 · Docket 15-458
Can a judge recall a jury after discharge?
The dispute centers on whether a judge can summon jurors back after officially releasing them.
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 argues discharge ends the jury's legal duty.
the opposing side argues recall protects the defendant from prejudice.
Justice Sotomayor questioned the need for an absolute bar on recall.
Chief Justice Roberts explored the definition of a discharged jury.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 4-14 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 4-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 50-18 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 50-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 6-16 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 6-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 36-6 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 36-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 12-12 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 12-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 52-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 52-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 44-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 44-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-48 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 42-6 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 42-6
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the power of a judge to recall a jury after discharge.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 36-6 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 36-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 12-12 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 12-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-50
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 26, 2016.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants a rule that discharge ends jury service.
the opposing side wants judges to keep power to recall jurors.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 36-6 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 36-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 12-12 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 12-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-50
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues discharge makes jurors ordinary citizens.
the opposing side argues recall prevents prejudice to the defendant.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 36-6 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 36-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 12-12 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 12-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-50
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked why an absolute bar on recall is needed.
Chief Justice Roberts asked about the bright-line rule for discharge.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 4-14 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 4-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 50-18 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 50-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 6-16 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 6-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 52-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 52-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 44-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 44-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-48 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 42-6 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 42-6
Why it matters
This issue defines the finality of jury service. It affects the stability of trial outcomes. It shapes the balance between finality and fairness.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 36-6 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 36-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 12-12 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 12-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-50
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 28-30 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 4-14 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 4-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 50-18 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 50-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 6-16 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 6-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 52-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 52-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 44-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 44-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-48 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 42-6 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 42-6
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 36-6 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 36-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 12-12 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 12-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 36-6 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 36-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 12-12 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 12-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-50
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.