October Term 2023 · Docket 22-721
Can Georgia void a jury verdict as internally contradictory?
The dispute centers on whether Georgia law allows courts to declare a jury verdict void because its findings contradict each other.
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. Simpson argued that a jury acquittal is final under double jeopardy law.
Mr. Petrany argued that Georgia law voids verdicts with contradictory findings.
Justice Alito asked if judges should instruct juries to deliberate further on inconsistencies.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 47-29
- 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 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 21-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-11
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Damian McElrath faces a double jeopardy challenge. He argues a jury acquittal is final. Georgia argues its state law voids contradictory verdicts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 21-15
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 28, 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 70, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 17-21
What each side wants
McElrath wants the Court to declare his acquittal final and bar retrial.
Georgia wants the Court to uphold its rule voiding contradictory verdicts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 21-15
What each side says
McElrath argues a jury acquittal is final under fundamental double jeopardy principles.
Georgia argues its state law voids verdicts with facially contradictory findings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 21-15
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the state can act to void the verdict.
Justice Thomas asked about the legal effect of a repugnant verdict finding.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-11
Why it matters
This case defines the finality of jury verdicts. It determines if states can void acquittals based on internal contradictions. The outcome shapes double jeopardy protections nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 21-15
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 23-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-9
- 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 23-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-11
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 30, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 21-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 21-15
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.