Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts
- Decided
- June 25, 2009
- Docket
- 07-591
- Status
- Published
- Jurisdiction
- Federal
Cited 2,882 timesNo negative treatment found in this library
What later courts said
- holding that analysts’ affidavits reporting results of forensic analysis are testimonial statements for purposes of the Confrontation Clause — v. People (2020)
- holding that a forensic laboratory report stating that a suspect substance was cocaine ranked as testimonial for purposes of the Confrontation Clause — State v. Whipple (2012)
- holding that a statement is testimonial if the declarant would reasonably expect the statements to be used prosecutorially — State v. Jaramillo (2011)
Each line is a later court’s own words about this case, not a summary. Read the opinion before relying on it.
How the opinion begins
[*307] Justice Scalia delivered the opinion of the Court.
The Massachusetts courts in this case admitted into evidence affidavits reporting the results of forensic analysis which showed that material seized by the police and connected to the defendant was cocaine. The question presented is whether those affidavits are “testimonial,” rendering the affiants “witnesses” subject to the defendant’s right of confrontation under the Sixth Amendment.
I
Cite this
Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, 557 U.S. 305 (2009)Read the full opinion
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