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Black v. United States

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
08-876 7th Cir. Dec 8, 2009
Jun 24, 2010 9-0 Ginsburg OT 2009

Holding: Two business executives were convicted of honest services fraud after the judge at their trial instructed the jury that a person commits such fraud if he misuses his position for private gain and knowingly and intentionally breaches his duty of loyalty. Given the Court's ruling in Skilling restricting the scope of the honest services fraud statute, it ruled in this case that those jury instructions were erroneous.

Judgment: Vacated and remanded, 9-0, in an opinion by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on June 24, 2010. In light of Skilling v. United States. Justice Scalia concurred in part and in the judgment, joined by Justice Thomas. Justice Kennedy also concurred in part and in the judgment.

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