October Term 2019 · Docket 18-5924
Does the Sixth Amendment require unanimous juries in state criminal trials?
Louisiana allows non-unanimous verdicts. the side that brought the case argues this violates the Sixth Amendment.
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 the Sixth Amendment requires unanimous juries in state trials.
He cited the Timbs decision to support equal application of rights.
He addressed concerns about reliance on existing non-unanimous verdicts.
Sarah Murrill argued the case presents two distinct legal issues.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-45 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 43-13 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 43-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 37-35 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 37-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 37-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 37-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 53-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 53-41
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether state criminal trials must use unanimous juries. the side that brought the case seeks a constitutional mandate. The state defends its current practice.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 37-35 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 37-35
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 7, 2019.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 37-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 37-13
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to mandate unanimous juries in all state criminal trials.
Louisiana wants the Court to allow states to use non-unanimous juries.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 37-35 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 37-35
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the Sixth Amendment requires unanimity for all criminal convictions.
Louisiana argues the Sixth Amendment does not require unanimous verdicts in state courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 37-35 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 37-35
What the justices asked
Justice Kavanaugh asked how to distinguish this case from jury size precedents.
Justice Kagan asked if this would create a unique exception for the Sixth Amendment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-45 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 43-13 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 43-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 37-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 37-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 53-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 53-41
Why it matters
This case determines whether state criminal defendants receive unanimous jury verdicts. It defines the scope of Sixth Amendment protections. It impacts how states conduct criminal trials.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 37-35 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 37-35
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 31-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-45 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 43-13 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 43-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 37-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 37-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 53-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 53-41
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 33, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 37-35 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 37-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 37-35 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 37-35
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.