No. 25-7182October Term 2025Before Arguments
David Johnson v. United States
from the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Case status
- Current stage
- Before Arguments
- Latest event
- Accepted by the Court
- Decision timing
- No window until argument is scheduled.
- What it's about
from the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Question presented
Whether an expert’s interpretive, pedagogical exhibit may be admitted into evidence under Rule 611(a) and reviewed by the jury during deliberations even when it does not comply with Federal Rule of Evidence 1006 and would otherwise be excluded as a demonstrative or illustrative aid that may not be provided to the jury?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit / Accepted by the Court
- Area
Supreme Court case awaiting argument
Timing
Expected by late June 2026, if argued this term
The Court granted review but has not yet scheduled oral argument. Once argued, the median case reaches a decision in 94 days. Nearly all cases are decided by the end of the term in which they are argued.
Briefing
What it's about
This case asks whether a trial court may admit an expert's interpretive teaching exhibit into evidence under Rule 611(a) and let jurors review it during deliberations, even if it does not satisfy Rule 1006. The petition says the Sixth Circuit allows parties to use Rule 611(a) to get argumentative or pedagogical summaries before the jury that Rule 1006 would otherwise block.
Argument
No Supreme Court argument is scheduled yet. The petition asks the justices to decide whether Rule 611(a) can be used to admit interpretive exhibits that do not comply with Rule 1006.
Impact
The fight is about what juries get to see in the jury room and how much interpretation can be built into that evidence. That can matter in federal criminal trials, for example when prosecutors or defense lawyers use charts or presentations to explain large sets of records.
What is David Johnson v. United States about?
It asks whether an expert's interpretive exhibit can be admitted under Rule 611(a) and sent to the jury room. The petition says Rule 1006 should limit that.
Who could be affected if the Court takes this case?
Lawyers, trial judges, experts, and juries in federal trials could be affected. The answer could shape how charts and teaching exhibits are used at trial.
What happens next in David Johnson v. United States?
The justices will first decide whether to hear the case. No oral argument is scheduled yet, and no decision window is available.
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
- Jul 30, 2026
- Method
- Methodology