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Sullivan v. Louisiana

508 U.S. 275, 113 S. Ct. 2078, 124 L. Ed. 2d 182 (1993)

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Sullivan v. Louisiana

United States Supreme Court
508 U.S. 275, 113 S. Ct. 2078, 124 L. Ed. 2d 182 (1993)

  • Written by Robert Cane, JD

Facts

Sullivan (defendant) was convicted of first-degree murder. While charging the jury, the trial judge gave an unconstitutional instruction regarding reasonable doubt, which misdescribed the burden of proof. The jury found Sullivan guilty and recommended a sentence of death, which the trial court then imposed. Sullivan appealed. The Louisiana Supreme Court upheld the conviction, finding that the instruction was erroneous but that it was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Scalia, J.)

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