Part 1: Ramos v. Louisiana (2020) Majority Opinion (Unanimous jury requirement for conviction of a serious crime, Incorporation of Sixth Amendment)

Audio of Ramos v. Louisiana (2020) Majority Opinion

In federal court and 48 states, all it takes is one juror to prevent a guilty verdict at trial. Only two states do not abide by this rule; they are Oregon and Louisiana, which require a 10-2 jury verdict.

The question before the Supreme Court in this case was whether the Fourteenth Amendment incorporated to the states the Sixth Amendment's guarantee of a unanimous verdict.

The Court said yes, incorporating the Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial to the states while overturning their 1972 decision in Apodaca v. Oregon, holding that a unanimous verdict is indeed required to convict a defendant of a serious offense.

 

Music by Epidemic Sound