{"ID":54549,"name":"California v. Roy","href":"https:\/\/api.oyez.org\/cases\/1996\/95-2025","view_count":0,"docket_number":"95-2025","additional_docket_numbers":null,"manner_of_jurisdiction":"Writ of \u003Ci\u003Ecertiorari\u003C\/i\u003E","first_party":"California","second_party":"Roy","timeline":[{"event":"Decided","dates":[847087200],"href":"https:\/\/api.oyez.org\/case_timeline\/case_timeline\/37890"}],"lower_court":{"ID":5,"name":"United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit","href":"https:\/\/api.oyez.org\/taxonomy\/term\/5"},"facts_of_the_case":"\u003Cp\u003EA California court convicted Kenneth Roy of robbery and first-degree murder. The State argued that Roy, in coming to the aid of a confederate who was committing the robbery, helped with the murder. The jury had been instructed that it could convict if Roy, with knowledge of the confederate\u0027s unlawful purpose, had helped the confederate. The State Supreme Court later held an identical instruction erroneous because it did not require the jury to find that a defendant had the knowledge and intent or purpose of committing, encouraging, or facilitating the confederate\u0027s crime. The State Court of Appeal affirmed Roy\u0027s conviction, finding that the error was harmless. On federal habeas review, the Federal District Court also found the error harmless, reasoning that no rational juror could have found that Roy knew the confederate\u0027s purpose and helped him but also did not intend to help him. In reversing, the en banc Court of Appeals applied a special harmless-error standard and held that the omission of the instruction\u0027s intent part is harmless only if a review of the assistance and knowledge facts found by the jury establishes that the jury necessarily found the omitted intent element.\u003C\/p\u003E\n","question":"\u003Cp\u003EDid the Court of Appeals, in applying a special harmless-error standard, apply a too-strict harmless-error standard for the purposes of federal habeas corpus review of a California trial judge\u0027s error in instructing a jury as to the elements of the crime of first-degree murder?\u003C\/p\u003E\n","conclusion":"\u003Cp\u003EYes. In a per curiam opinion, the Court held that as a federal court reviewing a state-court determination in a habeas corpus proceeding, the Court of Appeals should have applied the harmless-error standard whether the error had substantial and injurious effect or influence in determining the jury\u0027s verdict. 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