Withheld evidence in criminal trials
Wearry v. Cain
In brief
The Supreme Court ruled that Wearry’s rights were violated, overturned the Louisiana court’s judgment, and sent his case back.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided · March 7, 2016 · Per curiam
- What it’s about
- Michael Wearry argued that evidence withheld from his murder trial violated his constitutional right to a fair process.
- Who it affects
- Wearry’s case returns to the Louisiana postconviction court for further proceedings.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The Supreme Court agreed that his rights were violated, overturned the Louisiana post-conviction court’s judgment, and sent the case back for further proceedings (remanded).
Wearry argued that prosecutors withheld evidence from his murder trial, violating his right to a fair process.
Question presented
To prevail on a claim that suppression of evidence violated his due process rights under Brady v. Maryland , does a defendant need to show that, more likely than not, he would have been acquitted if the suppressed evidence in question had been made available to him?
What the Court decided
Holding
* * * Because Wearry’s due process rights were violated, we grant his petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis, reverse the judgment of the Louisiana postconviction court, and remand for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.
- Result
- Reversed
The vote
- Majority author
- Per Curiam
- Dissenting
- Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito, Jr.
From the opinions
“There is no question in my mind that the prosecution should have disclosed this information, but whether the information was sufficient to warrant reversing petitioner’s conviction is another matter.”
What's next
The case returns to the Louisiana postconviction court for further proceedings consistent with the Supreme Court’s opinion.
Documents
Opinions
Docket activity
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
AI analysis generated: Decision Record
Case data updated: summary, question_presented, generation_metadata
Case data updated: question_presented, extraction_metadata
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Opinion added: Wearry
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.