October Term 2021 · Docket 20-637
Can a defendant forfeit Confrontation Clause rights by opening the door to evidence?
The dispute centers on whether a criminal defendant loses the right to exclude testimonial hearsay when they introduce evidence that contradicts it.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Jeffrey Fisher argued that a defendant cannot lose Confrontation Clause rights by making a legitimate defense.
He stated this holds true even if the prosecution's hearsay contradicts that defense.
Ms. Mignola countered that the side that brought the case seeks a broad and sweeping rule.
She argued that a defendant can never open the door to evidence barred by the Confrontation Clause.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 15-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 15-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 27-53 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 27-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 53-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-21
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of the Confrontation Clause. It asks if a defendant can waive this constitutional protection by presenting a defense that conflicts with the prosecution's hearsay evidence.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 13-23
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 5, 2021.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-43
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to rule that a defendant never forfeits Confrontation Clause rights by opening the door to evidence.
the opposing side wants the Court to allow states to admit hearsay when a defendant's defense contradicts it.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 13-23
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues that a legitimate defense based on admissible evidence cannot strip a defendant of the right to exclude testimonial hearsay.
the opposing side argues that a defendant can open the door to otherwise barred evidence by presenting a contradictory defense.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 13-23
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked why the side that brought the case did not simply argue that the Reid precedent is unconstitutional.
Justice Alito questioned how the prosecution's evidence was admissible under state hearsay law despite the Confrontation Clause issues.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 15-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 15-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 27-53 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 27-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 53-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-21
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of the Confrontation Clause. It determines whether defendants can strategically waive their right to cross-examine witnesses. The outcome shapes how courts handle contradictory evidence in criminal trials.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 13-23
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 15-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 15-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 27-53 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 27-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 53-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-21
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 13-23
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.