No. 19-8692

Robert Lee Shields v. United States

Lower Court: Sixth Circuit
Docketed: 2020-06-12
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
Response WaivedIFP
Tags: buyer-seller buyer-seller-relationship conspiracy criminal-procedure drug-distribution jury-instructions narcotics-law pinkerton-liability substantive-drug-charges
Key Terms:
JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2020-09-29
Question Presented (AI Summary)

When the evidence in a drug distribution case demonstrates only two sales, what additional factors support an inference of a drug distribution conspiracy, rather than a buyer-seller relationship?

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED L. When the evidence in a drug distribution case demonstrates only two sales, what additional factors support an inference of a drug distribution conspiracy, rather than a buyer-seller relationship? I. Where there is only evidence of a buyer-seller relationship in a drug transaction, as opposed to a conspiracy to distribute narcotics, must a defendant’s convictions on substantive drug distribution counts be reversed when the trial court gave jury instructions permitting Pinkerton coconspirator liability on those substantive counts? 2

Docket Entries

2020-10-05
Petition DENIED.
2020-06-25
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/29/2020.
2020-06-16
Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
2020-06-05
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due July 13, 2020)

Attorneys

Robert Lee Shields
Thomas C. LyonsThomas Lyons Law Offices, Petitioner
United States
Jeffrey B. WallActing Solicitor General, Respondent