No. 22-6467

Louis Antonio Zayas v. United States

Lower Court: Third Circuit
Docketed: 2023-01-05
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
Response WaivedIFP
Tags: certiorari controlled-substances criminal-procedure criminal-trial directed-verdict due-process evidence-disclosure harmless-error jury-instruction jury-instructions prosecutorial-conduct
Latest Conference: 2023-02-17
Question Presented (from Petition)

1. Should the Supreme Court grant certiorari to consider whether the erroneous decision of the Trial Court to instruct the jury that the United States was not required to prove Zayas's knowledge that the individual to whom he delivered a controlled substance was pregnant constituted harmless error when the effect of said instruction was to grant a directed verdict in favor of the United States?

2. Should the Supreme Court grant certiorari to consider whether a disclosure by the United States of evidence favorable to Zayas on the final day of trial before the testimony of the final government witness constituted harmless error?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the erroneous jury instruction on knowledge requirement constituted harmless error

Docket Entries

2023-02-21
Petition DENIED.
2023-01-19
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/17/2023.
2023-01-11
Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
2023-01-03
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due February 6, 2023)

Attorneys

Louis Zayas
Joseph A. O'BrienOliver Price & Rhodes, Petitioner
United States
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Respondent