No. 25-1273October Term 2025Before Arguments
Stephen Joseph Johnson, Petitioner v. Montana
This case asks when, if ever, the Sixth Amendment’s Confrontation Clause allows a prosecution witness in a criminal trial to testify by two-way video instead of appearing in person.
Case status
- Current stage
- Before Arguments
- Latest event
- Accepted by the Court
- Decision timing
- No window until argument is scheduled.
- What it's about
This case asks when, if ever, the Sixth Amendment’s Confrontation Clause allows a prosecution witness in a criminal trial to testify by two-way video instead of appearing in person. The Court is being asked to clarify the legal test courts should use to decide whether that kind of remote testimony is constitutional.
Question presented
What is the appropriate standard for assessing whether the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment permits a prosecution witness to testify by two-way video?
- Case path
Supreme Court of Montana / Accepted by the Court
- Area
Supreme Court case awaiting argument
Timing
Expected by late June 2026, if argued this term
The Court granted review but has not yet scheduled oral argument. Once argued, the median case reaches a decision in 94 days. Nearly all cases are decided by the end of the term in which they are argued.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Sep 1, 2026
- Method
- Methodology