Supreme Court of the United States · Official docket →
Patrick Dwayne Adams v. United States
IFP petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, No. 25-50063 · judgment May 19, 2026
Question presented
When a criminal defendant is not liable as a principal, can that defendant enter a knowing and voluntary plea of guilty to aiding and abetting a charged offense without first being informed that, to be convicted as an aider and abettor, the Government must prove that the defendant (i) had the requisite intent to further the entire and specific crime charged; and (ii) took an affirmative act to further at least one element of the charged offense?
Counsel of record
For petitioner
Robert J. Clary
Robert Clary, PLLC
For respondent
D. John Sauer
Solicitor General
Case
Subject area
Criminal Procedure (estimated from the questions presented, in the Supreme Court Database’s categories)
Conference history
Distributed for 1 conference
Linked docket
26A170
Proceedings
- Oct 13 2026Motion (26M26) Granted.
- Sep 23 2026Motion (26M26) DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/9/2026.
- Sep 08 2026Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due November 13, 2026)
- Sep 08 2026Motion (26M26) of petitioner for leave to file a petition for a writ of certiorari with the supplemental appendix under seal filed.
- Aug 07 2026Application (26A170) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file until September 6, 2026.
- Aug 03 2026Application (26A170) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from August 17, 2026 to October 16, 2026, submitted to Justice Alito.