Supreme Court of the United States
Destefano v. Woods
June 17, 1968392 U.S. 631
Summary
The Court held that the rules requiring a jury trial for serious criminal cases (Duncan v. Louisiana) and for serious criminal contempt (Bloom v. Illinois) apply only prospectively, so the petitioners' collateral relief is denied; Justice Douglas dissented, arguing for retroactive application.
Holding
- Whether the Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial, as articulated in Duncan v. Louisiana, applies retroactively to cases decided before the rule was announced. No, the rule announced in Duncan v. Louisiana applies only prospectively
- Whether the Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial for serious criminal contempt, as articulated in Bloom v. Illinois, applies retroactively to cases decided before the rule was announced. No, the rule announced in Bloom v. Illinois applies only prospectively
Docket 559
Cited by
- Sam Hoover v. Dr. George J. Beto
- Harry Lee Williams v. W. J. Estelle
- United States of America, Appellee v. Patrick J. O’shea, Appellant
- State of Maine v. Robert P. Wheeler
- Harold D. Poitraw v. State of Maine
- City of Aberdeen, Respondent v. Meidinger, Appellant
- State of Connecticut v. Chester Brown
- State of Connecticut v. Chester Brown — Cotter, J., dissenting