Unanimous jury verdicts
Lewis v. Louisiana
In brief
The Supreme Court did not decide the jury-unanimity issue: it wiped out the Louisiana ruling (vacated) and sent the case back for another look (remanded) under Ramos.
- Where it stands
- Case remanded
Remanded · April 27, 2020
- What it’s about
- Lewis asked whether the Constitution allows a state conviction for a noncapital crime based on a nonunanimous jury verdict.
- Who it affects
- This order does not decide whether Lewis ultimately wins or whether he properly presented the jury-unanimity issue to the lower court. The Louisiana appeals court must reconsider the case in light of Ramos.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The Supreme Court granted review, wiped out the Louisiana appeals court’s judgment (vacated it), and sent the case back for another look (remanded) in light of *Ramos v. Louisiana*, without deciding the jury-unanimity question.
The Court linked Lewis's case to Ramos v. Louisiana but left Lewis's own constitutional question for the lower court.
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?
What the Court decided
Holding
Motion to proceed in forma pauperis and petition for a writ of certiorari granted. Judgment vacated and case remanded for further consideration in light of Ramos v. Louisiana, 590 U. S. ___ (2020). Justice Alito, concurring in the decision to grant, vacate, and remand: In this and in all other cases in which the Court grants, vacates, and remands in light of Ramos v. Louisiana, I concur in the judgment on the understanding that the Court is not deciding or expressing a view on whether the question was properly raised below but is instead leaving that question to be decided on remand.
- Result
- Remanded
What's next
The case goes back to Louisiana's Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal for consideration in light of Ramos. That court will also decide whether Lewis properly presented the jury-unanimity question there.
Documents
Docket activity
Case data updated: summary, question_presented, generation_metadata
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
AI analysis generated: Decision Record
New analysis added
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Case data updated: status, opinion_date
Brief added: Petition
Court Order added: Lower Court Orders/Opinions
More questions
- What was Lewis v. Louisiana about?
- It asked whether the Sixth Amendment requires a unanimous jury verdict to convict someone of a state crime that is not punishable by death.
- What did the Supreme Court do in Lewis v. Louisiana?
- It agreed to review the case, wiped out the Louisiana appeals court's ruling (vacated), and sent the case back (remanded) for reconsideration under Ramos.
- Did the Supreme Court decide who won?
- No. It did not decide the jury-unanimity question or whether Lewis properly presented it to the lower court.
- What happens next in Lewis v. Louisiana?
- Louisiana's Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal will reconsider the case in light of Ramos and decide whether Lewis properly presented the jury-unanimity question there.
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.