October Term 2016 · Docket 16-240
Does a closed jury selection require automatic retrial?
the side that brought the case seeks automatic reversal for a closed jury selection. the opposing side argues the error requires a specific prejudice showing.
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
the side that brought the case's counsel argued that structural errors create fundamental unfairness in trials.
the opposing side's counsel argued that ineffective assistance claims require individualized prejudice proof.
the side that brought the case's counsel stated that a closed empanelment requires the process to restart.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 44-10 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 44-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 38-12 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 38-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-4
- 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 6-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 6-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 10-30 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 10-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 38-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 30-38 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 30-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 4-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 18-24 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 18-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 4-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 16-32 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 16-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 44-48
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether a closed jury selection is a structural error. the side that brought the case claims this error voids the trial automatically. the opposing side argues the error requires proof of specific harm.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 38-12 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 38-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 10-30 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 10-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 38-6
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 19, 2017.
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 56, lines 30-38 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 30-38
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants an automatic new trial without proving specific harm.
the opposing side wants the court to require proof of specific prejudice.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 38-12 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 38-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 10-30 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 10-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 38-6
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues a closed selection is a structural error that voids the trial.
the opposing side argues the error requires proof that it affected the outcome.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 38-12 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 38-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 10-30 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 10-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 38-6
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the error was the judge's failure to reserve seats.
Justice Alito asked if closing a courtroom can affect the trial outcome.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 44-10 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 44-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 6-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 4-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 18-24 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 18-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 4-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 16-32 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 16-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 44-48
Why it matters
This case defines when a closed courtroom voids a criminal conviction. It determines whether defendants must prove specific harm from such closures.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 38-12 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 38-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 10-30 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 10-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 38-6
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 12-16 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 44-10 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 44-10
- 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 6-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 6-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 30-38 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 30-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 4-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 18-24 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 18-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 4-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 16-32 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 16-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 44-48
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 38-12 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 38-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 10-30 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 10-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 38-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 38-12 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 38-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-4 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 10-30 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 10-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 38-6
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.