When a juror makes a clear statement indicating that he or she relied on racial stereotypes or animus to convict a criminal defendant, the trial court must consider the evidence of the juror’s statement and any resulting denial of the jury trial guarantee.
A. Kennedy
Williams v. Pennsylvania, No. 15–5040, ___U.S__ (June 9, 2016).
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice’s denial of defendant’s recusal motion and his subsequent judicial participation violated the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Montgomery v. Louisiana, No. 14-280, ___ U.S. ___, (Jan. 25, 2016).
Miller v. Alabama’s prohibition on mandatory life without parole for juvenile offenders announced a new substantive, not procedural, rule. Miller is therefore retroactive in cases of state collateral review.
Johnson v. United States, No. 13-7120, ___ U.S. ___ (June 26, 2015).
Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA)’s definition of “violent felony” is unconstitutionally vague as to its residual clause, which covers any felony that “involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another”; clause leaves uncertainty about how to estimate the risk posed by a crime or how much risk it takes for a crime to qualify as a violent felony. (Overruling James v. United States, 550 U.S. 192 (2007) and Sykes v. United States, 564 U.S. 1 (2011).)
Obergefell v. Hodges, No. 14–556, __ U.S. __ (June 28, 2015).
Same-sex couples may exercise the fundamental right to marry.