October Term 2020 · Docket 19-5807
Does the unanimous jury rule apply to final state convictions?
the sides that brought the case seek retroactive application of the unanimous jury rule. the opposing sides argue the rule applies only to pending cases.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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. Belanger argued the jury right is fundamental and requires retroactive application.
Ms. Murrill argued Louisiana relied on prior precedent when adopting its jury rule.
Mr. Michel argued the rule is procedural and does not apply to final convictions.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 51-35 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 51-35
- 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 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 43-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 25-51 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 25-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 47-21 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 47-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-51
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The Court must decide if the unanimous jury requirement reaches final state convictions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 51-35 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 51-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 29-35
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 2, 2020.
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 21-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 21-29
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the unanimous jury rule to apply to their final convictions.
the opposing sides want the rule to apply only to pending cases and direct appeals.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 51-35 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 51-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 29-35
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the jury right is fundamental and requires retroactive application.
the opposing sides argue the rule is procedural and does not apply to final convictions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 51-35 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 51-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 29-35
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked if any procedural rule besides Gideon applies retroactively.
Chief Justice Roberts asked for empirical evidence that unanimity prevents inaccurate convictions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 43-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 25-51 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 25-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 47-21 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 47-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-51
Why it matters
This case determines whether thousands of final convictions face new review. It defines the scope of the Sixth Amendment jury right. It impacts state court finality and federal habeas review.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 51-35 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 51-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 29-35
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 13-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 43-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 25-51 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 25-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 47-21 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 47-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-51
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 51-35 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 51-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 51-35 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 51-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 29-35
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.