Smith v. Utah
In brief
The Supreme Court refused to take Smith's case, leaving the Utah ruling in place without deciding whether Utah courts properly evaluated his understanding of his Miranda rights.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided · May 18, 2020
- What it’s about
- Brandon Perry Smith asked the Supreme Court to review whether Utah courts properly considered whether he understood enough to knowingly and intelligently waive his Miranda rights. The Court denied review, leaving the Utah court’s ruling in place.
- Who it affects
- The Utah court's ruling remained in place for Smith because the Supreme Court did not review his case.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
Smith filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to hear the case and also asked to proceed without paying filing fees.
Question presented
1. Whether the Sixth Amendment’s guarantee of the right to the effective assistance of counsel is violated when trial counsel fails to investigate and present evidence that the defendant did not commit the murders for which he was sentenced to death. 2. Whether the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment is violated by the execution of a person who is actually innocent of the crime for which he was sentenced to death. 3. Whether the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment is violated when a state court refuses to consider evidence of actual innocence in a post-conviction proceeding.
What the Court decided
Holding
Petition DENIED.
What's next
The Supreme Court's action on this docket is finished. The Utah ruling remains in place for Smith, and the order does not resolve the legal questions raised in his petition.
Documents
Opinions
Key filings
Docket activity
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AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
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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.