October Term 2016 · Docket 15-606
Can a court review juror statements about racial bias?
the side that brought the case seeks to admit juror statements about racial bias. Colorado argues such statements remain confidential.
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
Jeffrey Fisher argued racial bias undermines the Sixth Amendment right.
He noted many states already allow courts to review such evidence.
He acknowledged other identity categories might raise similar questions.
Colorado's advocate argued jury confidentiality prevents harassment and tampering.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 28-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 28-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 50-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 50-8
- 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 28-46 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 28-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 34-8 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 34-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-28 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-4 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 52-6 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 52-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 6-14 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 6-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-26 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 16-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 34-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-12 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 20-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 16-18
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether courts may examine juror statements about racial bias. the side that brought the case argues this bias violates the Sixth Amendment. Colorado argues jury deliberations must remain confidential.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 28-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 28-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 34-8 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 34-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-4 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-4
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 11, 2016.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 52-6 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 52-6
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the court to admit evidence of racial bias.
Colorado wants the court to keep jury statements confidential.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 28-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 28-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 34-8 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 34-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-4 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-4
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues racial bias violates the right to an impartial jury.
Colorado argues jury confidentiality protects the integrity of the trial system.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 28-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 28-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 34-8 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 34-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-4 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-4
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if religious bias would trigger the same rule.
Justice Alito asked how to distinguish race from religion in future cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 50-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 50-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 28-46 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 28-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-28 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 52-6 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 52-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 6-14 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 6-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-26 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 16-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 34-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-12 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 20-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 16-18
Why it matters
This dispute defines the scope of jury confidentiality. It determines whether courts can investigate racial bias in verdicts. The outcome shapes the balance between fair trials and private deliberations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 28-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 28-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 34-8 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 34-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-4 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-4
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 50-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 50-8
- 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 28-46 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 28-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-28 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 52-6 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 52-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 6-14 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 6-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-26 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 16-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 34-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-12 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 20-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 16-18
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 28-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 28-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 34-8 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 34-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-4 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 28-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 28-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 34-8 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 34-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-4 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 36-4
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.