Case library

Every case that has aired in GUILTY or NOT? is a real, reported decision. Here are the facts as the court had them and the citation for each one. The verdict — and the court's reasoning — stays in the game.

GUILTY or NOT? is the daily true-crime puzzle from LAWGAMES: a real court case puzzle every day. Read the facts as the court had them, weigh both sides, decide GUILTY or NOT, then see what the court actually ruled. Browse by category, or look up a term in the glossary.

128 cases, newest first. Filter by title, case name, charge or year.

The Sheriff and the Mail 1868 United States v. Kirby — Knowingly and wilfully obstructing the passage of the United States mail (Act of March 3, 1825) · Kentucky · U.S. Supreme Court
A Deal With an Informant 1994 State v. Pacheco — Conspiracy to commit first-degree murder · Washington
Finders Keepers? 1878 Brooks v. State — Larceny of lost property · Ohio
The Deadly Drag Race 1961 Commonwealth v. Root — Involuntary manslaughter · Pennsylvania
Can Computer Time Be Stolen? 1977 Lund v. Commonwealth — Grand larceny · Virginia
The .315 Driver 1984 United States v. Fleming — Second-degree murder · Virginia · Federal
Hauled Out Drunk 1944 Martin v. State — Public drunkenness · Alabama
The Payroll That Never Came 1927 People v. Rizzo — Attempted robbery, first degree · New York
Bullet Meant for Another 1996 People v. Scott — Murder · California
Killed by the Police 2001 State v. Sophophone — Felony murder (predicated on aggravated burglary) · Kansas
The Helicopter Chase 1991 People v. Acosta — Second-degree murder (three counts) · California
The Auditors' Footnote 1969 United States v. Simon — Conspiracy and mail fraud from certifying false and misleading financial statements · New York · Federal
You Could Say That 1988 State v. Hoselton — Entering without breaking with intent to commit larceny, charged as a principal · West Virginia
Borrowed, Not Stolen 2010 People v. Sisuphan — Embezzlement (Cal. Penal Code § 508) · California
The Sleepwalker's Pistol 1879 Fain v. Commonwealth — Murder (tried as manslaughter) · Kentucky
The Delusional Tenant 1978 People v. Wetmore — Second-degree burglary · California
Prime-Time Injection 2001 People v. Kevorkian — Second-degree murder · Michigan
Breakfast in the Buff 1982 State v. Metzger — Violating a municipal indecency ordinance · Nebraska
The Vampire Clan 2000 Ferrell v. State — First-degree murder (two counts) · Florida
The Devils on the Dock 1959 People v. Gorshen — Second-degree murder · California
Trial by Mathematics 1968 People v. Collins — Second-degree robbery · California
The Kerosene Cure 1884 Commonwealth v. Pierce — Manslaughter · Massachusetts
The Investment That Wasn't 1991 People v. Genoa — Attempted possession with intent to deliver cocaine · Michigan
Death Over the Airwaves 1985 Bailey v. Commonwealth — Involuntary manslaughter · Virginia
Someone Else's Numbers 2009 Flores-Figueroa v. United States — Aggravated identity theft (18 U.S.C. § 1028A) · Iowa · U.S. Supreme Court
The Rifle in the Bike Bag 1984 People v. Dillard — Carrying a loaded firearm in a public place · California
The Pickup Game Punch 1997 State v. Shelley — Assault in the second degree · Washington
The Reverse Drag Race 1990 Velazquez v. State — Vehicular homicide · Florida
For Kicks 1977 Commonwealth v. Golston — Murder in the first degree · Massachusetts
The Stolen Airplane 1931 McBoyle v. United States — Interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle (National Motor Vehicle Theft Act) · Oklahoma · U.S. Supreme Court
Two Mortal Wounds 1899 People v. Lewis — Manslaughter · California
The Orphan's Insult 1913 Freddo v. State — Second-degree murder · Tennessee
The Silenced Warning 1894 State v. Tally — Murder (aiding and abetting) · Alabama
The Man at the Window 1891 State v. Hayes — Burglary and larceny · Missouri
Russian Poker 1946 Commonwealth v. Malone — Second-degree murder · Pennsylvania
Shot in the Dark 1922 Thacker v. Commonwealth — Attempted Murder · Virginia
Passing the Buck 1938 United States v. Peoni — Aiding and Abetting Possession of Counterfeit Money · New York · Federal
Let It Burn 1923 Commonwealth v. Cali — Arson — burning insured property to defraud the insurer · Massachusetts
The Fatal Spin 1963 Commonwealth v. Atencio — Involuntary Manslaughter · Massachusetts
The Deadly Getaway 1978 People v. Fuller — First-Degree Felony Murder · California
The Cruise Control Defense 1977 State v. Baker — Speeding (strict liability offense) · Kansas
Red-Light Ambush 1964 People v. La Voie — Murder · Colorado
The Promise to Feed 1992 Commonwealth v. Pestinikas — Third-Degree Murder (by Omission) · Pennsylvania
The Sugar Sale 1975 United States v. Feola — Assaulting Federal Officers; Conspiracy · New York · U.S. Supreme Court
Too Drunk to Care 1983 People v. Register — Depraved Indifference Murder · New York
No Apparent Purpose 1999 City of Chicago v. Morales — Loitering (Gang Congregation Ordinance) · Illinois · U.S. Supreme Court
The Owner Shot First 1965 People v. Washington — Felony Murder · California
The Hand-Drawn Map 1970 State v. Gladstone — Aiding and Abetting the Sale of Marijuana · Washington
The Order Form 1922 United States v. Balint — Selling Narcotics Without the Required Order Form (Narcotic Act of 1914) · New York · U.S. Supreme Court
The Wire Already in Custody 1961 People v. Rojas — Attempting to Receive Stolen Property · California
The Christmas Eve Shooting 1987 State v. Forrest — Murder — First Degree · North Carolina
The Vail Collision 2000 People v. Hall — Manslaughter — Reckless (Felony) · Colorado
The Bomb Casings 1952 Morissette v. United States — Knowingly Converting Government Property — Federal · Michigan · U.S. Supreme Court
The Second Shooter 1977 People v. Dlugash — Murder — Second Degree · New York
The Cellmate Confession 1990 Illinois v. Perkins — First-Degree Murder · Illinois · U.S. Supreme Court
The Party Fight 1967 United States v. Brawner — Murder — Second Degree · District of Columbia · Federal
Not Really Heroin 1976 United States v. Oviedo — Attempted Distribution of Heroin (21 U.S.C. § 846) · Texas · Federal
The One Who Stayed 2014 Fernandez v. California — Robbery; Assault with a Deadly Weapon · California · U.S. Supreme Court
The Dropped Rock 1991 California v. Hodari D. — Possession of Cocaine · California · U.S. Supreme Court
The Jailbreak 1980 United States v. Bailey — Escape from Federal Custody (18 U.S.C. § 751(a)) · District of Columbia · U.S. Supreme Court
The Delaware Avenue Crash 1956 People v. Decina — Criminal Negligence in Operation of a Motor Vehicle Resulting in Death · New York
The Answering Service 1967 People v. Lauria — Conspiracy to Commit Prostitution · California
The Broken Door 1980 Payton v. New York — Murder (First Degree) · New York · U.S. Supreme Court
The Subway Shooting 1987 People v. Goetz — Attempted Murder — Second Degree (4 Counts) · New York
The 911 Call 2014 Navarette v. California — Transportation of Marijuana and Possession of Marijuana for Sale · California · U.S. Supreme Court
The Smell at the Door 2011 Kentucky v. King — Trafficking in Controlled Substances; Possession of Marijuana · Kentucky · U.S. Supreme Court
The Front Door 2013 Florida v. Jardines — Trafficking in Cannabis · Florida · U.S. Supreme Court
The Backyard Standoff 1973 United States v. Peterson — Manslaughter · District of Columbia · Federal
The Federal Guard's Gun 1987 People v. Marrero — Criminal Possession of a Weapon — Third Degree · New York
The Tarp on the Driveway 2018 Collins v. Virginia — Receiving Stolen Property · Virginia · U.S. Supreme Court
The Heat Map 2001 Kyllo v. United States — Manufacturing Marijuana (Federal) · Oregon · U.S. Supreme Court
The GPS Tracker 2012 United States v. Jones — Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine · District of Columbia · U.S. Supreme Court
The Three-Second Wait 2006 Hudson v. Michigan — Possession of Drugs and a Firearm · Michigan · U.S. Supreme Court
Drunk Again 1966 Powell v. Texas — Public Intoxication — Texas Penal Code Art. 477 · Texas · U.S. Supreme Court
The Garage Door 2021 Lange v. California — Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol · California · U.S. Supreme Court
The Registration Ordinance 1957 Lambert v. California — Failure to Register as a Convicted Felon — Los Angeles Municipal Ordinance · California · U.S. Supreme Court
The Last Call 1983 People v. Watson — Murder — Second Degree (2 Counts) · California
The Needle Marks 1960 Robinson v. California — Violation of California Health & Safety Code § 11721 — Being Addicted to Narcotics · California · U.S. Supreme Court
The Rib House 1994 State v. Guthrie — Murder — First Degree · West Virginia
The Backyard 1986 People v. Oliver — Involuntary Manslaughter · California
The Shared Driveway 1961 State v. Abbott — Atrocious Assault and Battery · New Jersey
The Ninety-Minute Bag 1983 United States v. Place — Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute · New York · U.S. Supreme Court
The Vagrancy Arrests 1972 Papachristou v. City of Jacksonville — Violation of Jacksonville, Florida Vagrancy Ordinance · Florida · U.S. Supreme Court
The Sinking Longboat 1842 United States v. Holmes — Manslaughter on the High Seas · Pennsylvania · Federal
The Brothers' Farm 1946 Pinkerton v. United States — Conspiracy to Violate the Internal Revenue Code; Substantive Tax Violations (Illegal Whiskey) · Alabama · U.S. Supreme Court
The General Amusement Company 1965 People v. Stamp — Murder — First Degree (Felony Murder); First-Degree Robbery · California
The Rat Warehouse 1975 United States v. Park — Adulteration of Food — Federal (Multiple Counts) · Maryland · U.S. Supreme Court
The Informant in the Hotel 1966 Hoffa v. United States — Jury Tampering; Bribery · Tennessee · U.S. Supreme Court
The Glass Booth 1967 Katz v. United States — Transmitting Wagering Information by Telephone Across State Lines · California · U.S. Supreme Court
The Oil Pipeline 1999 United States v. Hanousek — Negligent Discharge of a Harmful Quantity of Oil into a Navigable Water — Clean Water Act (Federal Misdemeanor) · Alaska · Federal
The Addict's Defense 1973 United States v. Moore — Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute; Unlawful Possession of Heroin · District of Columbia · Federal
The Sugar Sellers 1940 United States v. Falcone — Conspiracy to Violate the National Prohibition Act (Unlawful Distilling) · New York · Federal
The Drug Company President 1943 United States v. Dotterweich — Introducing Misbranded and Adulterated Drugs into Interstate Commerce (Federal Misdemeanor) · New York · U.S. Supreme Court
The Hundred-Dollar Ride 1976 United States v. Jewell — Knowingly Importing and Possessing a Controlled Substance (Marijuana) · California · Federal
The Presa Canarios 2002 People v. Knoller — Murder — Second Degree · California
The Tucson IRS Protest 1992 United States v. Schoon — Obstruction of Federal Agency Operations; Failure to Comply with Federal Police Order · Arizona · Federal
The Highway Stop 1984 Berkemer v. McCarty — Driving Under the Influence (Misdemeanor) · Ohio · U.S. Supreme Court
The Car at the Ditch 1983 Michigan v. Long — Possession of Marijuana · Michigan · U.S. Supreme Court
The Passenger Pat-Down 2009 Arizona v. Johnson — Unlawful Possession of a Weapon; Possession of Marijuana · Arizona · U.S. Supreme Court
The Anonymous Letter 1983 Illinois v. Gates — Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substances · Illinois · U.S. Supreme Court
The Two-Hour Wait 2001 Illinois v. McArthur — Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Marijuana · Illinois · U.S. Supreme Court
The Witness Checkpoint 2004 Illinois v. Lidster — Driving Under the Influence · Illinois · U.S. Supreme Court
The Blank Warrant 2004 Groh v. Ramirez — Possession of Unregistered Firearms · Montana · U.S. Supreme Court
The Station-House Interrogation 1979 Dunaway v. New York — Attempted Murder; Robbery · New York · U.S. Supreme Court
The Revoked Plates 2020 Kansas v. Glover — Driving as a Habitual Violator · Kansas · U.S. Supreme Court
The One Good Brake Light 2014 Heien v. North Carolina — Trafficking in Cocaine · North Carolina · U.S. Supreme Court
The Recalled Warrant 2009 Herring v. United States — Possession of Methamphetamine; Illegal Possession of a Firearm by a Felon · Alabama · U.S. Supreme Court
The Tip on the Corner 2000 Florida v. J.L. — Unlawful Carrying of a Concealed Firearm · Florida · U.S. Supreme Court
The Conference Room 2011 J.D.B. v. North Carolina — Breaking and Entering and Larceny (Juvenile Delinquency) · North Carolina · U.S. Supreme Court
The Listening Cellmate 1986 Kuhlmann v. Wilson — Murder; Robbery · New York · U.S. Supreme Court
The Booking Questions 1990 Pennsylvania v. Muniz — Driving Under the Influence · Pennsylvania · U.S. Supreme Court
The Station-House Search 1983 Illinois v. Lafayette — Possession of a Controlled Substance · Illinois · U.S. Supreme Court
The Open Door 2006 Georgia v. Randolph — Possession of Cocaine · Georgia · U.S. Supreme Court
The Nightclub Fire 1943 Commonwealth v. Welansky — Involuntary Manslaughter — 19 Counts · Massachusetts
The Fellow Veteran 1932 Sorrells v. United States — Unlawful Possession and Sale of Intoxicating Liquor — National Prohibition Act · North Carolina · U.S. Supreme Court
The Passenger's Purse 1999 Wyoming v. Houghton — Possession of Methamphetamine · Wyoming · U.S. Supreme Court
The Last Ride to Canandaigua 1974 People v. Kibbe — Murder — Second Degree (Depraved Indifference) · New York
The Insurance Scheme 1977 State v. Toscano — Conspiracy to Obtain Money by False Pretenses · New Jersey
The Family Jewelry 1984 People v. Beeman — Robbery; Burglary; False Imprisonment; Assault with Intent to Commit a Felony (Aiding and Abetting) · California
The No Trespassing Signs 1984 Oliver v. United States — Manufacturing Marijuana · Kentucky · U.S. Supreme Court
The Canned Heat 1969 Commonwealth v. Feinberg — Involuntary Manslaughter — Multiple Counts · Pennsylvania
The Rejection 1977 People v. Casassa — Murder — Second Degree · New York
The Defective Warrant 1984 United States v. Leon — Drug Trafficking (Cocaine, Marijuana, Methamphetamine) · California · U.S. Supreme Court
The Open-Ended Warrant 1979 Lo-Ji Sales, Inc. v. New York — Promoting Obscenity · New York · U.S. Supreme Court
The Wired Co-Defendant 1964 Massiah v. United States — Federal Drug Trafficking · New York · U.S. Supreme Court
The Airport Profile 1980 United States v. Mendenhall — Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute · Michigan · U.S. Supreme Court
The Early Morning Stop 1968 People v. Newton — Murder — Second Degree · California
The Locked Patrol Car 2009 Arizona v. Gant — Possession of a Narcotic Drug for Sale and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia · Arizona · U.S. Supreme Court

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