Gutierrez v. Saenz
U.S. Supreme Court · decided June 26, 2025 · Supreme Court Database (Spaeth)
- Decided
- June 26, 2025
- Term
- October Term 2024
- Vote
- 6–3
- Majority author
- Justice Sotomayor
- Issue area
- Due Process
- Disposition
- Reversed and remanded
- Outcome
- Petitioning party won
- Ideological direction
- Liberal
Opinion excerpt
PRELIMINARY PRINT Volume 606 U. S. Part 1 Pages 305–356 OFFICIAL REPORTS OF THE SUPREME COURT June 26, 2025 Page Proof Pending Publication REBECCA A. WOMELDORF reporter of decisions NOTICE: This preliminary print is subject to formal revision before the bound volume is published. Users are requested to notify the Reporter of Decisions, Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, D. C. 20543, pio@supremecourt.gov, of any typographical or other formal errors. OCTOBER TERM, 2024 305 Syllabus GUTIERREZ v. SAENZ et al. certiorari to the united states court of appeals for the fth circuit No. 23–7809. Argued February 24, 2025—Decided June 26, 2025 In 1998, Texas charged Ruben Gutierrez with capital murder for his involvement in the killing of Escolastica Harrison. The State's theory at trial was that Gutierrez wielded one of the two screwdrivers used to stab Harrison to death in her mobile home. The jury convicted Gutier- rez of capital murder. At the sentencing phase of Gutierrez's trial, the jury was required to answer whether Texas proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Gutierrez “actually caused” Harrison's death or, if not, that he “intended to kill [her]” or “anticipated that a human life would be taken.” Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann., Art. 37.071(2)(b)(2). The jury an- swered yes, and Gutierrez was sentenced to death. For nearly 15 years, Gutierrez has sought DNA testing of…
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