No. 22-899October Term 2023Decided Jun 21, 2024
Smith v. Arizona
The Supreme Court ruled that a criminal defendant's Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause rights were violated when a substitute expert witness testified about the findings of a non-testifying forensic analyst.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jun 21, 2024
- What it's about
The Supreme Court ruled that a criminal defendant's Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause rights were violated when a substitute expert witness testified about the findings of a non-testifying forensic analyst. The Court held that when an expert conveys an absent analyst's statements to support their own opinion, those statements are effectively being introduced for their truth, requiring the defendant to have the opportunity to cross-examine the original analyst.
Question presented
Does the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment permit the prosecution in a criminal trial to present testimony by a substitute expert conveying the testimonial statements of a nontestifying forensic analyst?
- Case path
State appellate court / Decision released Jun 21, 2024
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Documents
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Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Mar 30, 2026
- Method
- Methodology