Plain-English summary
To decide when venue is proper and limits on charging felonies without an indictment
The Supreme Court will decide whether a criminal case can be tried in a district where no conduct occurred so long as the law’s intent element 'contemplates' effects there, and whether an unaccompanied criminal information qualifies as an 'information charging a felony' that permits government action without an indictment. The case is scheduled for argument and is not yet decided.
Why this matters
The case will clarify where criminal trials may be held and what formal steps the government must take to charge serious federal crimes. The answers affect defendants’ constitutional and statutory rights about fair trial location and grand jury indictment protections, and they could change how prosecutors choose where and how to file charges.
Who may feel it
- Criminal defendants in federal cases (venue and indictment issues)
- Federal prosecutors and U.S. Attorneys' offices
- Defense lawyers handling venue and indictment challenges
- Victims and witnesses whose location can influence trial venue
- Courts that must apply venue and charging rules
Key questions
- Is venue proper in a district where no offense conduct took place if the statute’s intent element merely "contemplates" effects that could occur in that district?