Doyle v. Ohio
United States Supreme Court
426 U.S. 610 (1976)
- Written by Richard Lavigne, JD
Facts
Doyle (defendant) was charged with selling marijuana to an informant for the narcotics bureau of the State of Ohio (plaintiff). At trial, Doyle presented a version of events that contradicted the prosecution’s version of events. The prosecution cross-examined Doyle and asked why he had not explained his version of events to the agent who arrested him. Doyle objected to the prosecutor’s questions, and the trial court overruled his objections. Doyle was convicted, and his conviction was upheld in the state courts. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari to consider the question of whether it violates a criminal defendant's constitutional rights for a prosecutor to use the defendant's post-arrest silence in an attempt to impeach the defendant's credibility.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Powell, J.)
Dissent (Stevens, J.)
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