What counts as unwelcome
Cepeda v. United States
In brief
- Where it stands
- Dismissed
Petition denied.
- What it’s about
- Technical Sergeant Angelo L. Cepeda asked whether an accused must affirmatively agree on the record before waiving the right to accurate instructions on the charged offense, and how “unwelcome” should be defined in sexual-harassment cases.
- Who it affects
- Cepeda did not obtain Supreme Court review, and the Court made no ruling on either legal question.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The Supreme Court refused to hear his petition (denied review) and did not decide either question.
The dispute came from the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and concerned trial instructions and the meaning of “unwelcome” in sexual-harassment cases.
Question presented
1. Is the constitutional right to a fair trial, which necessarily includes accurate instructions on the elements of the charged offense and correct definitions, so fundamental that it cannot be waived without an affirmative response from the accused on the record? 2. What is the definition of “unwelcome” as this term relates to sexual harassment?
Documents
Docket activity
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AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
AI analysis generated: Decision Record
Case data updated: question_presented, extraction_metadata
Case data updated: summary, question_presented, generation_metadata
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Court Order added: Lower Court Orders/Opinions
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.