1. Home
  2. Browse Decisions
  3. U.S.
  4. 365 U.S.
  5. 365 U.S. 570 (1961)
 

FERGUSON v. GEORGIA

No. 44.

365 U.S. 570 (1961)

81 S.Ct. 756

5 L.Ed.2d 783

FERGUSON v. GEORGIA.

Supreme Court of United States.

Decided March 27, 1961.

Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Paul James Maxwell argued the cause and filed a brief for appellant.

Dan Winn, Solicitor General of Georgia, argued the cause for appellee. With him on the brief were Eugene Cook, Attorney General, John T. Ferguson, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, John T. Perrin, Assistant Solicitor General, and Robert J. Noland.

MR. JUSTICE BRENNAN delivered the opinion of the Court.

The State of Georgia is the only State—indeed, apparently the only jurisdiction in the common-law world—to retain the common-law rule that a person charged with a criminal offense is incompetent to testify under oath in his own behalf at his trial. Georgia in 1866 abolished by statute the common-law rules of incompetency for most other persons. However, the statute, now Georgia Code § 38-416...

Let's get started

Leagle.com

Welcome to the leading source of independent legal reporting
Sign on now to see your case.
Or view more than 10 million decisions and orders.

  • Updated daily.
  • Uncompromising quality.
  • Complete, Accurate, Current.

Listed below are the cases that are cited in this Featured Case. Click the citation to see the full text of the cited case. Citations are also linked in the body of the Featured Case.

Cited Cases

  • No Cases Found

Listed below are those cases in which this Featured Case is cited. Click on the case name to see the full text of the citing case.

Citing Cases