The right to challenge witnesses is tested in the US Supreme Court

Conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, who regularly rules against criminals, is leading the pro-defendant charge in reversing convictions for murderers, drug dealers, drunk drivers and wife beaters, because of the right to challenge witnesses. The case considered before the Court in early December is about a Chicago rapist who is arguing that his 6th Amendment rights were violated because prosecutors didn’t put a DNA lab technician on the witness stand whose test results helped convict and sentence him to prison. Prosecutors and crime lab directors everywhere are watching this case carefully as it could affect how past and present crimes are prosecuted.

The right to challenge witnesses is tested in the US Supreme Court swarthlaw.com Tue, Dec 6, 2011