Williams v. Florida

Williams v. Florida
Argued March 4, 1970
Decided June 22, 1970
Full case nameWilliams v. State of Florida
Citations399 U.S. 78 (more)
90 S. Ct. 1893; 26 L. Ed. 2d 446; 1970 U.S. LEXIS 98
ArgumentOral argument
Case history
PriorWilliams v. State, 224 So. 2d 406 (Fla. 3d DCA 1969); cert. granted, 396 U.S. 955 (1969).
Holding
(1) The Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination does not excuse a criminal defendant from giving the prosecution notice of the identities of his alibi witnesses.
(2) The Sixth Amendment does not require that a jury must consist of 12 jurors.
Court membership
Chief Justice
Warren E. Burger
Associate Justices
Hugo Black · William O. Douglas
John M. Harlan II · William J. Brennan Jr.
Potter Stewart · Byron White
Thurgood Marshall · Harry Blackmun
Case opinions
MajorityWhite, joined by Burger, Brennan; Harlan, Stewart, Marshall (Part I); Black, Douglas (Part II)
ConcurrenceBurger
Concur/dissentBlack, joined by Douglas
Concur/dissentHarlan
Concur/dissentStewart
DissentMarshall (in part)
Blackmun took no part in the consideration or decision of the case.
Laws applied
U.S. Const. amends. V, VI, XIV

Williams v. Florida, 399 U.S. 78 (1970), is a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court held that the Fifth Amendment does not entitle a defendant in a criminal trial to refuse to provide details of his alibi witnesses to the prosecution, and that the Sixth Amendment does not require a jury to have 12 members.[1]

Background

Williams had been convicted of robbery in Florida and sentenced to life imprisonment. Williams's defense had been alibi, and Florida law required him to notify the prosecution, in advance of the trial, of the names of his alibi witnesses, so that the prosecution could try to obtain rebuttal evidence. Williams argued that the requirement to assist the prosecution in this way violated his Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate himself.

Also, in 1967 Florida had reduced the number of jurors in all non-capital cases from 12 to 6, and so Williams had been convicted by a jury of six. Williams argued that the Sixth Amendment not only guaranteed the right to a jury trial, but also required that a jury must have all the characteristics it had under the common law, including that it consist of 12 persons.

The Florida District Court of Appeal ruled against Williams on both issues. The Florida Supreme Court did not have jurisdiction to hear the case, and in 1969 the US Supreme Court agreed to hear the case.

Opinion of the Court

The Court held that Florida's notice-of-alibi rule did not violate the Fifth Amendment. The Fifth Amendment would not be violated if, after the alibi witness had given evidence, the court granted a continuance to allow the prosecution to seek rebuttal evidence (this point was conceded by Williams's lawyers). Consequently, all the notice-of-alibi law did was allow the prosecution to do so before the trial, instead of having to interrupt the trial. It did not provide the prosecution with more information to use against a defendant than they would eventually get in any event.

The Court also held that the Sixth Amendment did not require a particular number of jurors. The point of a jury trial was to prevent oppression by the government:

Providing an accused with the right to be tried by a jury of his peers gave him an inestimable safeguard against the corrupt or overzealous prosecutor and against the compliant, biased, or eccentric judge.[2]

This function of a jury could be performed just as well by six jurors as by twelve:

[T]he essential feature of a jury obviously lies in the interposition between the accused and his accuser of the common sense judgment of a group of laymen... The performance of this role is not a function of the particular number of the body that makes up the jury.[3]

Subsequent developments

A companion case, Dunn v. Louisiana, was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction in a one-line per curiam opinion noting that Justice Marshall would have reversed for the reasons provided in his dissent in Williams.[4]

Eight years later, in Ballew v. Georgia, the Supreme Court held that a jury of 5 was unconstitutional.[5]

References

  1. ^ Williams v. Florida, 399 U.S. 78 (1970). Public domain This article incorporates public domain material from this U.S government document.
  2. ^ Williams, 399 U.S. at 100, quoting Duncan v. Louisiana, 391 U.S. 145, 156 (1968).
  3. ^ Williams, 399 U.S. at 100.
  4. ^ 399 U.S. 520 (1970).
  5. ^ Ballew v. Georgia, 435 U.S. 223 (1978).

Further reading

  • Walbert, David F. (1971). "The Effect of Jury Size on the Probability of Conviction: An Evaluation of Williams v. Florida". Case Western Reserve Law Review. 22 (3): 529–554.

Read other articles:

الموارعة الرمل تقسيم إداري البلد المغرب  الجهة طنجة تطوان الحسيمة الإقليم العرائش الدائرة اللوكوس الجماعة القروية العوامرة المشيخة العوامرة الغربية إحداثيات 35°04′00″N 6°07′08″W / 35.0668°N 6.119°W / 35.0668; -6.119  السكان التعداد السكاني 3866 نسمة (إحصاء 2004)   • عدد الأس

 

Furkotský štít Der Furkotský štít vom Tal Furkotská dolina heraus gesehen Höhe 2404 m n.m. Lage Slowakei Gebirge Hohe Tatra Koordinaten 49° 10′ 7″ N, 20° 1′ 39″ O49.16866720.0273892404Koordinaten: 49° 10′ 7″ N, 20° 1′ 39″ O Furkotský štít (Slowakei) Typ Felsgipfel Der Furkotský štít (deutsch Furkotaspitze, Furkoter Spitze oder Rauschbachspitze, ungarisch Furkota-csúcs, polnisch Furkot)[...

 

Partido Comunista de la República Socialista Federativa Soviética de RusiaКоммунистическая партия Российской Советской Федеративной Социалистической Республики Primer Secretario Iván Polozkov (primero)Valentín Kuptsov (último)Fundación 19 de junio de 1990Ilegalización 6 de noviembre de 1991Disolución 14 de febrero de 1993Precedido por Oficina rusa del Comité Central del PCUS y Partido Comunista de la Unió...

XEDA-FM Localización Ciudad de México, MéxicoEslogan Poniendo a México en la misma sintoníaFrecuencia 90.5 MHz en FM(También disponible en HD Radio)Formato Noticias/HabladaIdioma EspañolPotencia 100 kW[1]​Indicativo XEDA-FMPropietario Grupo ImagenWebcast MP3 48KbpsSitio web imagenradio.com.mx[editar datos en Wikidata] XEDA-FM 90.5 MHz, Imagen Radio es una emisora de radio comercial que transmite en la banda de frecuencia modulada con 100 kW de potencia en la Ciudad de M...

 

Printed Torah in the form of a codex Chumash from Basel, 1943, in the Jewish Museum of Switzerland’s collection. Chumash (also Ḥumash; Hebrew: חומש, pronounced [χuˈmaʃ] or pronounced [ħuˈmaʃ] or Yiddish: pronounced [ˈχʊməʃ]; plural Ḥumashim) is a Torah in printed and book bound form (i.e. codex) as opposed to a Sefer Torah, which is a scroll. The word comes from the Hebrew word for five, ḥamesh (חמש). A more formal term is Ḥamishah Ḥumshei...

 

Panel van This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Citroën C15 – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) Motor vehicle Citroën C15Early C15 (1984–89)OverviewManufacturerCitroënProduction1984–20061,181,471 builtAssemblySpai...

International sporting eventFootball at the 2007 Pan American GamesVenuesFive stadiumsDatesJuly 12−27No. of events2 (1 men, 1 women)«2003 2011» Football competitions at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil were held between July 12 and 27, 2007.[1] Matches were held at five stadiums in the city. Medal summary Medal table RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal1 Brazil1001 Ecuador10013 Jamaica0101 United States01015 Canada0011 Mexico0011Totals...

 

Kokoleceran Sebuah perangko bergambar badak jawa dan pohon kokoleceran Status konservasi Terancam (IUCN 2.3) Klasifikasi ilmiah Kerajaan: Plantae (tanpa takson): Angiospermae (tanpa takson): Eudikotil (tanpa takson): Rosidae Ordo: Malvales Famili: Dipterocarpaceae Genus: Vatica Spesies: V. bantamensis Nama binomial Vatica bantamensis(Hassk.) Benth. & Hook.ex Miq. Kokoleceran adalah maskot provinsi Banten[1] yang merupakan salah satu tanaman endemik Banten yang dipercaya ...

 

У Вікіпедії є статті про інших людей із прізвищем Горбунов. Юрій Горбунов Фінал шоу «Голос. Діти» (2017) Фінал шоу «Голос. Діти» (2017)Ім'я при народженні Горбунов Юрій МиколайовичНародився 24 серпня 1970(1970-08-24) (53 роки)Новий Розділ, Львівська область, Українська РСР, СРСРНаціонал�...

1951 Goodwood Trophy Non-championship race in the 1951 Formula One season Race detailsDate 29 September 1951Official name IV Goodwood TrophyLocation Chichester, West Sussex, UKCourse Goodwood CircuitCourse length 3.830 km (2.388 miles)Distance 15 laps, 57.450 km (35.817 miles)Pole positionDriver Tony Rolt Delage-ERA Grid positions set by ballotFastest lapDriver Giuseppe Farina Alfa RomeoTime 1:28.0PodiumFirst Giuseppe Farina Alfa RomeoSecond Reg Parnell FerrariThird Tony Rolt Delage-ERAMotor ...

 

Olympic shooting event Men's 50 metre pistolat the Games of the XXXI OlympiadAerial view of the National Shooting Center in Deodoro, where the men's 50 metre pistol took place.VenueNational Shooting CenterDate10 August 2016Competitors41 from 29 nationsWinning score193.7 ORMedalists Jin Jong-oh  South Korea Hoàng Xuân Vinh  Vietnam Kim Song-guk  North Korea← 2012 Shooting at the2016 Summer OlympicsQualificationRifle50 m rifle three positionsmenwomen50 m ri...

 

Sanktuarium Matki Bożejz Monte Berico Państwo  Włochy Miejscowość Monte Berico k. Vicenzy Wyznanie katolickie Kościół rzymskokatolicki Historia Data zakończenia budowy 1688 Dane świątyni Świątynia• materiał bud. • kamień Położenie na mapie WłochSanktuarium Matki Bożejz Monte Berico 45°32′04,56″N 11°32′44,52″E/45,534600 11,545700 Multimedia w Wikimedia Commons Strona internetowa Sanktuarium Matki Bożej z Monte Berico – budowla sakralna, która...

Список памятников и мемориалов города Бендеры включая утраченные (выделены курсивом) Персонаж Год установки Местоположение Авторы(скульпторы; архитекторы) Фото Примечания и ссылки Матиасу Миллеру Бендерская крепость Александру Сергеевичу Пушкину(статья) 6 июня 1980 год�...

 

Street in Los Angeles Van Nuys Blvd. redirects here. For the 1979 movie, see Van Nuys Blvd. (film). Van Nuys BoulevardNamesakeIsaac Newton Van NuysMaintained byBureau of Street Services, Los Angeles Department of Public WorksLocationLos Angeles, CaliforniaNearest metro station  Van NuysSouth endValley Vista Blvd. in Sherman OaksMajorjunctionsVentura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks US 101 in Sherman Oaks, Los AngelesVictory Blvd. in Van NuysSherman Way in Panorama CityRoscoe Blvd. in Pano...

 

52°44′23″N 2°04′44″W / 52.7397°N 2.0788°W / 52.7397; -2.0788 Teddesley Hall was a large Georgian English country house located close to Penkridge in Staffordshire, now demolished. It was the main seat firstly of the Littleton Baronets and then of the Barons Hatherton. The site today retains considerable traces of the hall, gardens and other buildings, while the former home farm remains a working farm. Origins and history Memorial to Sir Edward Littleton, th...

Distrik Balangan Peta Zuid en Ooster Afdeeling van Borneo, Distrik Balangan no. XI Distrik Balangan adalah bekas salah satu distrik (kedemangan) di wilayah Afdeeling Amonthaij pada tahun 1861 dibawah seorang regent (Bupati) yang bernama Adipatie Danoe Radja atau Radhen Adipati Danoe Redjo di bawah pemerintahan militer kolonial Hindia Belanda setelah dihapuskannya Kesultanan Banjar oleh Belanda pada tanggal 11 Juni 1860 (karena meletusnya Perang Banjar).[1] Tahun 1862 Tahun 1862 daerah...

 

Ethnic group in Dagestan, Russia Not to be confused with the Kurdish Laks of western Iran. LakTotal populationc. 200,000Regions with significant populations Russia of which  Dagestan     162 518[1]173 416[1] Turkmenistan4,100[citation needed] Uzbekistan3,400[citation needed] Tajikistan2,300[citation needed] Azerbaijan1,600[citation needed] Ukraine900[citation needed] Kazakhstan700 ...

 

This article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject. Please help improve the article by providing more context for the reader. (August 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) Modeling and simulation (M&S) is the use of models (e.g., physical, mathematical, behavioral, or logical representation of a system, entity, phenomenon, or process) as a basis for simulations to develop data utilized for managerial or technical decision making.[1 ...

County in Delaware, United States County of Delaware in DelawareSussex CountyCounty of DelawareSussex County Courthouse in Georgetown FlagSealLocation within the U.S. state of DelawareDelaware's location within the U.S.Coordinates: 38°41′N 75°20′W / 38.68°N 75.34°W / 38.68; -75.34Country United StatesState DelawareFoundedAugust 8, 1683Named forSussex, EnglandSeatGeorgetownLargest citySeafordArea • Total1,196 sq mi (3,100 km2...

 

Olympics event Badmintonat the Games of the XXXII OlympiadVenueMusashino Forest Sport PlazaDates24 July – 2 August 2021No. of events5Competitors172 from 49 nations← 20162024 → Badminton at the2020 Summer OlympicsList of badminton playersQualificationSinglesmenwomenDoublesmenwomenmixedvte The badminton tournaments at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo took place between 24 July and 2 August 2021. A total of 172 athletes (86 male and 86 female players) competed ...

 

Strategi Solo vs Squad di Free Fire: Cara Menang Mudah!