Harris v. New York
United States Supreme Court
401 U.S. 222 (1971)
- Written by DeAnna Swearingen, LLM
Facts
Harris (defendant) was arrested for selling drugs to an undercover police officer. At trial, Harris testified. During cross-examination, the prosecution attempted to impeach Harris’s earlier testimony by asking questions about unwarned statements Harris made following arrest. The jury was instructed that the statements could be used only to assess Harris’s credibility. The statements were not used during the prosecution’s case-in-chief. Both attorneys discussed the statements during closing arguments. Harris was found guilty. In a per curiam opinion, the New York Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Burger, C.J.)
Dissent (Brennan, J.)
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