Blanton v. City of North Las Vegas
| Blanton v. North Las Vegas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Argued January 9, 1989 Decided March 6, 1989 | |
| Full case name | Blanton et al. v. City of North Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Citations | 489 U.S. 538 (more) |
| Case history | |
| Prior | Certiorari to the Supreme Court of Nevada. |
| Subsequent | 103 Nev. 623, 748 P.2d 494, affirmed. |
| Holding | |
| The right to a jury trial is not found in crimes where the maximum period of incarceration is under six months. | |
| Court membership | |
| |
| Case opinion | |
| Majority | Marshall, joined by unanimous |
| Laws applied | |
| U.S. Const. amend. VI | |
Blanton v. North Las Vegas, 489 U.S. 538 (1989), is a United States Supreme Court case clarifying the limitations of the right to trial by jury.
Background
Melvin R. Blanton was charged with Driving under the influence of alcohol. His petition for a jury trial was denied and he was instead given a bench trial. Blanton appealed, arguing that his sixth amendment right to trial by jury had been violated.
Opinion of the Court
The Court ruled that Blanton did not have the right to a jury trial because the crime he was charged with was "petty". The Court went on to elaborate: "offenses for which the maximum period of incarceration is six months, or less, are presumptively petty...a defendant can overcome this, and become entitled to a jury trial,..by showing that additional penalties [such as monetary fines]...are...so severe [as to indicate] that the legislature clearly determined that the offense is a serious one."[1]
See also
- List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 489
- List of United States Supreme Court cases
- Lists of United States Supreme Court cases by volume
- List of United States Supreme Court cases by the Rehnquist Court
References
- ^ "Blanton v. City of No. Las Vegas - 489 U.S. 538 (1989)". Justia. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
External links
- Blanton v. City of No. Las Vegas - 489 U.S. 538 (1989)
- Justia: Blanton v. City of No. Las Vegas - 489 U.S. 538 (1989)[permanent dead link]
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