Unanimous jury verdicts
Heard v. Louisiana
In brief
The Supreme Court did not decide whether Heard's verdict, which was not unanimous, violated the Sixth Amendment; it wiped out the lower court's ruling and sent the case back in light of Ramos v. Louisiana.
- Where it stands
- Case remanded
Remanded · April 27, 2020
- What it’s about
- Robert Lee Heard Jr. challenged his Louisiana conviction because the jury’s verdict was not unanimous.
- Who it affects
- The Louisiana Court of Appeal for the Third Circuit must reconsider the case in light of Ramos, but the order does not say whether Heard's conviction will stand.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The Supreme Court sent the case back for another look (a grant-vacate-remand order), wiping out the lower court’s ruling and requiring reconsideration in light of Ramos v. Louisiana; it did not decide the issue itself.
This case shows how the Supreme Court can wipe out a lower-court ruling and require another look without deciding the underlying constitutional question.
Question presented
Whether the Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial—as applied to the States through the Fourteenth Amendment—requires a unanimous jury verdict to convict a defendant of a serious 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 Louisiana Court of Appeal for the Third Circuit will reconsider the case in light of Ramos v. Louisiana. Whether Heard properly raised the issue in the lower court remains for that court to decide.
Why it matters
The order also leaves whether he properly raised the issue in the lower court for that court to decide.
Documents
Docket activity
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AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
AI analysis generated: Decision Record
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More questions
- What was Heard v. Louisiana about?
- Heard challenged his Louisiana conviction because the jury's verdict was not unanimous, raising whether the Sixth Amendment requires unanimous verdicts for serious offenses.
- What did the Supreme Court do in Heard v. Louisiana?
- The Court wiped out the Louisiana appeals court's ruling (vacated) and sent the case back (remanded) in light of Ramos v. Louisiana.
- Did the Supreme Court decide whether Heard's conviction violated the Sixth Amendment?
- No. It did not decide whether a unanimous verdict was required here or whether Heard properly raised the issue in the lower court.
- What happens next in Heard v. Louisiana?
- The Louisiana Court of Appeal for the Third Circuit will reconsider the case in light of Ramos v. Louisiana. Whether Heard properly raised the issue remains for that court to decide.
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.