Docket nos. 14–1095 End date January 25, 2016 | Citations 577 U.S. ___ (more) Location United States of America | |
Full case name Michael Musacchio, Petitioner v. United States Prior history On Writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Majority Thomas, joined by unanimous Similar Betterman v Montana, Foster v Chatman, Caetano v Massachusetts, Hurst v Florida, Birchfield v North Dakota | ||
Musacchio v united states oral argument november 30 2015
Musacchio v. United States, 577 U.S. ___ (2016) was a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States clarified procedures for appellate review when the government does not object to an erroneous jury instruction that adds elements to a criminal offense as well as whether a defendant may raise a statute of limitations defense for the first time on appeal. In a unanimous opinion written by Justice Clarence Thomas, the Court held that when reviewing a claim that the government failed to demonstrate sufficient evidence to substantiate a criminal offense, an appellate court should assess the elements of the alleged crime, rather than the elements that were described in jury instructions. Justice Thomas explained that "[a] reviewing court’s limited determination on sufficiency review ... does not rest on how the jury was instructed." Additionally, with respect to the statute of limitations issue, Justice Thomas held that a statute of limitations defense cannot be raised for the first time on appeal.