No. 19-5989October Term 2019Decided Apr 27, 2020Updated Sep 3, 2026
Victor v. Louisiana
The Supreme Court declined to hear Victor's case, leaving the Louisiana lower-court result in place without deciding the jury-unanimity issue.
Case status
Decided · April 27, 2020
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Apr 27, 2020
- What it's about
This case involves a petition for a writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court regarding a decision by the Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fifth Circuit. The Supreme Court has granted certiorari to review the lower court's ruling.
Question presented
Whether the Sixth Amendment’s 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?
- Case path
Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fifth Circuit / Decision released Apr 27, 2020
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Decision
What the Court decided
The Supreme Court declined to hear Victor's case, leaving the Louisiana lower-court result in place without deciding the jury-unanimity issue.
Impact
The lower-court result remains in place for Victor. The case concerned defendants convicted by state juries who argue that a non-unanimous verdict violated their constitutional rights.
Not official Court text.
Briefing
What it's about
Victor asked the Supreme Court to decide whether the Constitution requires unanimous jury verdicts for serious criminal convictions in state court. The Court declined review and did not decide that question on the merits.
Impact
The lower-court result remains in place for Victor. The case concerned defendants convicted by state juries who argue that a non-unanimous verdict violated their constitutional rights.
What's next
The Court has finished its action on this petition. Victor's lower-court result remains in effect.
What did the Supreme Court do in Victor v. Louisiana?
The Court declined to review the case. It did not decide whether state criminal juries must be unanimous.
Who is affected by Victor v. Louisiana?
Victor remains affected by the Louisiana lower-court result. The petition also concerned state defendants challenging convictions based on non-unanimous verdicts.
What happens next in Victor v. Louisiana?
The Supreme Court's action on the petition is complete. The Louisiana lower-court result remains in place.
Timing
Decided April 27, 2020
The Court released its decision on April 27, 2020 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity2
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
Sep 3, 2026 | Generated
Brief added: Petition
May 9, 2019 | 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