No. 18-7488October Term 2018Decided Apr 27, 2020Updated Sep 3, 2026
Lewis v. Louisiana
The Court declined to take up Lewis's challenge, so it did not resolve the merits of the unanimous-jury question here.
Case status
Decided · April 27, 2020
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Apr 27, 2020
- What it's about
The Supreme Court granted certiorari to review a decision from the Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fourth Circuit. The specific facts and legal issues of the case are not detailed in the available record.
Question presented
Whether the Sixth Amendment’s right to a jury trial—as applied to the States through the Fourteenth Amendment—requires a unanimous verdict to convict a defendant of a non-capital offense?
- Case path
Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fourth Circuit / Decision released Apr 27, 2020
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Decision
What the Court decided
The Court declined to take up Lewis's challenge, so it did not resolve the merits of the unanimous-jury question here.
Impact
The action left the Louisiana Fourth Circuit's result in place. For example, a Louisiana defendant challenging a non-unanimous conviction received no new relief from this docket action.
Not official Court text.
Briefing
What it's about
Lewis asked whether the Sixth Amendment requires unanimous jury verdicts for state criminal convictions that do not involve capital punishment. The Court declined review and did not decide that question in this case.
Impact
The action left the Louisiana Fourth Circuit's result in place. For example, a Louisiana defendant challenging a non-unanimous conviction received no new relief from this docket action.
What's next
The Court has finished this docket action. The Louisiana Fourth Circuit's result remains in place for this case.
What did the Supreme Court do in Lewis v. Louisiana?
The Court declined review. It did not decide whether the Constitution requires unanimous jury verdicts for these state criminal convictions.
Who was affected by the action in Lewis v. Louisiana?
Lewis and other Louisiana defendants challenging non-unanimous convictions received no new relief from this case. The lower-court result stayed in place.
What happens next in Lewis v. Louisiana?
The Supreme Court has finished its action on this docket. No further Supreme Court merits decision is expected in this case.
Timing
Decided April 27, 2020
The Court released its decision on April 27, 2020 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity3
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
Sep 3, 2026 | Generated
Brief added: Petition
Jan 14, 2019 | Court records
Court Order added: Lower Court Orders/Opinions
Nov 27, 2018 | Court records
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary materials plus reporting.
- Note
- Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Sep 3, 2026
- Method
- Methodology
Primary materials7
Supreme Court docket 18-7488
docket | Jul 25, 2026
Primary case document
Supreme Court document | Jul 25, 2026
CourtListener docket record
docket | Jul 25, 2026
Petition
brief | Jan 14, 2019
Lower Court Orders/Opinions
order | Nov 27, 2018
SupremeCourt.gov
official | Sep 3, 2026
SupremeCourt.gov
official | Sep 3, 2026