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No. 24-7435October Term 2025Decided Dec 8, 2025Updated Dec 8, 2025

Docket 24-7435October Term 2025 (2025–2026)

Antonio Nathaniel Davenport, Jr. v. United States

Antonio Nathaniel Davenport, Jr., Petitioner v. United States

This case addressed whether a trial court is constitutionally required to provide a specific definition of "reasonable doubt" to a jury upon a defendant's request.

Case status

Decided · December 8, 2025

Read the opinion (PDF)
Current stage
Decided
Latest event
Decision released Dec 8, 2025
Case Accepted
Arguments
Decision ReleasedDec 8, 2025
What it's about

This case addressed whether a trial court is constitutionally required to provide a specific definition of "reasonable doubt" to a jury upon a defendant's request. The Supreme Court held that the Constitution neither prohibits courts from defining the term nor mandates that they do so.

Question presented

Whether a trial court is constitutionally required to provide a specific definition of "reasonable doubt" to a jury upon a defendant's request.

Case path

United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit / Decision released Dec 8, 2025

Area

Decided Supreme Court case

Timing

Decided December 8, 2025

The Court released its decision on December 8, 2025 without hearing oral argument.

Activity

Docket activity3
  • Opinion added: Opinion

    Dec 8, 2025 | Court records

  • Opinion added: Davenport

    Dec 8, 2025 | Court records

  • Brief added: Petition

    Jun 11, 2025 | Court records

Grounding