A theoretical model for laser-induced supersonic cracks in crystals with weak cleavage planes is developed. The crack is pictured as being driven by a laser-induced expanding plasma. The theory predicts the crack length-time history to be expected for a given energy-time input curve. The conditions for laser-induced supersonic crack production are seen to be a large input energy relative to fracture energy, a short loading time, and a weak fracture plane. The theoretical calculations are in rough agreement with experimental observations.