Burch v. Louisiana

CitationBurch v. Louisiana, 441 U.S. 130, 99 S. Ct. 1623, 60 L. Ed. 2d 96, 1979 U.S. LEXIS 87 (U.S. Apr. 17, 1979)

Brief Fact Summary. Petitioners were convicted on obscenity charges by a six-person jury that was not unanimous.

Synopsis of Rule of Law. “[T]hat conviction by a nonunanimous six-member jury in a state criminal trial for a nonpetty offense deprives an accused of his constitutional right to trial by jury.”

Issue. “[W]hether conviction by a nonunanimous six-person jury in a state criminal trial for a nonpetty offense as contemplated by.