Erlinger v. United States
A plain-English summary from Criminal Defense Resources™, a free resource for pro per/pro se defendants and their families.
General educational information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. This page describes what a court decided in general terms. It does not tell you what to do in any case.
- Court
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Decided
- Citation
- 602 U.S. 821 (2024)
- Topics
- Sentencing
What did the court decide?
The Court held that, under the federal Armed Career Criminal Act, whether a defendant's past offenses happened on separate "occasions" must be decided by a unanimous jury beyond a reasonable doubt (or admitted by the defendant), not decided by a judge.
Why does it matter?
A recent application of the jury-trial rule from Apprendi to sentencing enhancements based on criminal history.
Where can I read the full opinion?
Read the full opinion on Cornell Law School LII →
Always read the full opinion and check whether later cases have limited or changed it. A summary can leave out important details.
Related rulings
General educational information, not legal advice. Not a law firm.