Evans v. United States

Evans v. United States
Argued December 9, 1991
Decided May 26, 1992
Full case nameJohn H. Evans, Jr., v. United States
Citations504 U.S. 255 (more)
112 S.Ct. 1881, 119 L.Ed.2d 57
ArgumentOral argument
Opinion announcementOpinion announcement
Case history
Prior910 F.2d 790 (CA11 1990)
Holding
An affirmative act of inducement by a public official, such as a demand, is not an element of the offense of extortion "under color of official right" prohibited by the Hobbs Act.
Court membership
Chief Justice
William Rehnquist
Associate Justices
Byron White · Harry Blackmun
John P. Stevens · Sandra Day O'Connor
Antonin Scalia · Anthony Kennedy
David Souter · Clarence Thomas
Case opinions
MajorityStevens (parts I and II), joined by White, Blackmun, Souter, O'Connor
MajorityStevens (part III), joined by White, Blackmun, Souter, Kennedy
ConcurrenceO'Connor (in part and in judgment)
ConcurrenceKennedy (in part and in judgment)
DissentThomas, joined by Rehnquist, Scalia

Evans v. United States, 504 U.S. 255 (1992), was a case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States. The court held that, to prove that a public official has committed extortion in violation of the Hobbs Act by accepting a payment, the government is not required to show that the official took an "affirmative act" to induce the payment.[1][2]

References

  1. ^ "Evans v. United States, 504 U.S. 255 (1992)". Justia Law. Archived from the original on 2025-08-19. Retrieved 2026-01-24.
  2. ^ Mark McDaniel & Carole Coil Medley, Commentary on Criminal Law Decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court, 1 Jones L. Rev. 151 (1997).