No. 24-7435October Term 2025Decided Dec 8, 2025
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
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Dec 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.
Documents
Related cases




Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- May 1, 2026
- Method
- Methodology