Crawford v. Washington
A plain-English summary from Criminal Defense Resources™, a free resource for pro per/pro se defendants and their families.
General educational information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. This page describes what a court decided in general terms. It does not tell you what to do in any case.
- Court
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Decided
- Citation
- 541 U.S. 36 (2004)
What did the court decide?
The Court held that "testimonial" out-of-court statements from a witness who does not testify at trial cannot be used against the defendant unless the witness is unavailable and the defendant had a prior opportunity to cross-examine that witness.
Why does it matter?
This case reshaped the Sixth Amendment right to confront witnesses. It is often discussed when the prosecution wants to use recorded statements, police interviews, or lab reports without live testimony.
Where can I read the full opinion?
Read the full opinion on Cornell Law School LII →
Always read the full opinion and check whether later cases have limited or changed it. A summary can leave out important details.
General educational information, not legal advice. Not a law firm.