No. 24-404

Ji Chaoqun v. United States

Lower Court: Seventh Circuit
Docketed: 2024-10-10
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response Waived
Tags: criminal-statute federal-criminal-law foreign-agent jury-unanimity prosecutorial-discretion statutory-interpretation
Latest Conference: 2024-11-08
Question Presented (from Petition)

18 U.S.C. § 951 provides that "[w]hoever, other than a diplomatic or consular officer or attaché, acts in the United States as an agent of a foreign government without prior notification to the Attorney General . . . shall be fined . . . or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both." 18 U.S.C. § 951(a). This Court has long recognized that juries should be formally and explicitly instructed on unanimity as it relates to an essential element of an offense. The question presented is:

Must a jury unanimously decide which act a defendant committed subject to the direction or control of a foreign government to convict under 18 U.S.C. § 951?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Must a jury unanimously decide which act a defendant committed subject to the direction or control of a foreign government to convict under 18 U.S.C. § 951?

Docket Entries

2024-11-12
Petition DENIED.
2024-10-23
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/8/2024.
2024-10-15
Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
2024-10-08
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due November 12, 2024)

Attorneys

Ji Chaoqun
Damon Matthew CheronisCheronis and Parente LLC, Petitioner
United States
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Respondent