Publication Date
5-2013
Document Type
Casenote
Abstract
DNA evidence has revolutionized forensic science, making it the "single greatest advance in the search for truth.., since the advent of cross-examination." In Williams v. Illinois, the United States Supreme Court affirmed the Illinois Supreme Court's holding that there was no Confrontation Clause violation where experts based their testimony on another analyst's DNA report that was not admitted into evidence. The Court held an expert may assume the truth of certain facts-such as a DNA profile contained in a forensic report-to offer testimony based on those facts without testifying to the truth of the matter asserted. Until Williams, the expert that performed the forensic tests had to testify at trial to avoid violating the Confrontation Clause. With Williams, the Court attempted to reshape the constitutional lens of scientific confrontation.
Recommended Citation
Crawford, Natasha
(2013)
"Williams v. Illinois: Confronting Experts, Science, and the Constitution,"
Mercer Law Review: Vol. 64:
No.
3, Article 9.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.law.mercer.edu/jour_mlr/vol64/iss3/9