Jason Smith, Petitioner v. Arizona

  1. June 21, 2024

    High Court Opens Expert Testimony Basis To Confrontation

    The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that Arizona prosecutors may have violated a criminal defendant's Sixth Amendment right to confront witnesses testifying against him by presenting a substitute expert witness at trial, and sent the case back down to state court for further proceedings.

  2. January 10, 2024

    Justices Toy With New Testimony Rule In Ariz. Expert Dispute

    The U.S. Supreme Court seemed to agree Wednesday that Arizona prosecutors violated a criminal defendant's Sixth Amendment right to confront witnesses testifying against him by presenting a substitute expert witness at trial, and instead centered most of its questions on whether the court should revise its rule for identifying testimonial statements.

  3. January 05, 2024

    Up Next At High Court: Court Notices, Fees & No Fly List

    The U.S. Supreme Court returns Monday to kick off a new calendar year by hearing arguments over the proper way to notify migrants of immigration court removal procedures, the constitutionality of state legislature-mandated general impact fees and whether prosecutors can present substitute expert witnesses at criminal trials.

  4. December 11, 2023

    Solicitor General To Join Argument In Ariz. Experts Dispute

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday granted a request from the solicitor general's office for oral argument time in an Arizona man's appeal related to a criminal defendant's right to cross-examine expert witnesses, a case in which the office cautioned the justices to issue only a narrow ruling.

  5. November 21, 2023

    DOJ Tells Justices Substitute Experts Don't Merit New Rules

    The U.S. Department of Justice has cautioned the U.S. Supreme Court against issuing a broad ruling in an Arizona man's appeal related to a criminal defendant's right to cross-examine expert witnesses, and asked the justices to hand down a narrow ruling that only corrects the state court's error.

  6. November 15, 2023

    Justices Told Substitute Expert Testimony Is Unconstitutional

    The U.S. Supreme Court must clarify its previous holding that expert witnesses can testify about statements made by a nontestifying witness without violating a criminal defendant's right to confront their accusers, an Arizona man has argued, claiming the ruling creates a loophole for prosecutors to skirt the Sixth Amendment.

  7. September 29, 2023

    High Court To Tackle Confrontation, Forfeiture Procedures

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to review two criminal court procedure cases related to a defendant's right to cross-examine expert witnesses who testify at trial for the prosecution and the flexibility of a criminal forfeiture order deadline.