October Term 2022 · Docket 22-196
Does a jury instruction cure a Confrontation Clause violation when a co-defendant's confession names the defendant?
The dispute centers on whether a judge's instruction to ignore a co-defendant's confession satisfies the Sixth Amendment when that confession explicitly names the defendant.
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
Ms. Flynn asserted that a jury instruction eliminates Confrontation Clause problems.
Mr. Shanmugam argued that the government's approach suffers from two problems.
Justice Alito noted the redaction resembles the standard in Gray.
Justice Barrett questioned how the rule applies to two defendants.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 39-53 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 39-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-35
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Samia argues that a co-defendant's confession violates his rights even if the jury ignores it. The government argues that a proper jury instruction cures any constitutional defect.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 39-53 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 39-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 19-43
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 29, 2023.
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 35-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-45
What each side wants
Samia wants the Court to rule that the confession violated his rights.
The government wants the Court to rule that the jury instruction cured the defect.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 39-53 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 39-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 19-43
What each side says
Samia argues that the confession's content inherently violates the Confrontation Clause.
The government argues that a jury instruction to ignore the evidence resolves the issue.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 39-53 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 39-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 19-43
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if Samia preserved the argument at trial.
Justice Alito asked if the defense proposed an alternative redaction method.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-35
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of jury instructions in criminal trials. It determines whether specific evidence can be admitted despite constitutional concerns. The outcome shapes how courts handle co-defendant confessions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 39-53 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 39-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 19-43
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 11, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-35
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 106, lines 39-53 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 39-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 39-53 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 39-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 19-43
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.