stating that "[i]f the constitutional right to a fair opportunity to defend against the charge means anything, it must empower a court to override a state evidence rule that would bar the defendant from presenting evidence that could create a reasonable, non-speculative doubt about the defendant's guilt"
How later courts described this case
- stating that "[i]f the constitutional right to a fair opportunity to defend against the charge means anything, it must empower a court to override a state evidence rule that would bar the defendant from presenting evidence that could create a reasonable, non-speculative doubt about the defendant's guilt"
- explaining that a criminal defendant’s constitutional "right to present a defense is not without limitations” and therefore defendants "must comply with procedural and evidentia-ry rules” even where such rules limit a defendant's ability to present his version of the facts
- stating that Sixth Amendment concerns may enter into the picture when it is the defendant who is seeking to present other crimes evidence and that there may well be situations when the clear and convincing rule may have the potential to operate unconstitutionally
- stating error warrants reversal if “there is a reasonable possibility that the [error] complained of may have contributed to the conviction.” (alteration in original) (citing Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 24, 87 S.Ct. 824, 17 L.Ed.2d 705 (1967))
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
HANSON, Justice
(dissenting).
I join in the dissent of Justice Meyer.