District Attorney's Office for the Third Judicial District v. Osborne
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
- 557 U.S. 52 (2009)
- Topics
- DNA Evidence & Testing
What did the court decide?
The Court held that there is no freestanding federal constitutional right to obtain evidence for post-conviction DNA testing, and that the state's procedures for post-conviction relief were adequate.
Why does it matter?
Access to post-conviction DNA testing depends mostly on state laws and procedures, which vary from state to state.
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.
Related rulings
General educational information, not legal advice. Not a law firm.