NACDL - Kansas v. Ventris

Kansas v. Ventris

Amicus curiae brief of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in support of Respondent, cited in both the majority and dissenting opinions, arguing that jailhouse snitch testimony is too unreliable to be admitted even for impeachment purposes, as snitches have a strong incentive to lie.

Kansas v. Ventris

Brief Details

Case No.: 07-1356
Brief Filed: April 29, 2009
Jurisdiction: United States Supreme Court

Briefs

ventris_amicus.pdf

Prior Decision

Opinion below, 176 P.3d 920 (Kan. 2008).

Argument(s)

Respondent’s voluntary statement to jailhouse informant planted in his cell by law enforcement, concededly in violation of the Sixth Amendment, was admissible to impeach his inconsistent testimony at trial.

Author(s)

Amy Howe and Kevin K. Russell, Howe & Russell P.C., Washington, D.C.; Thomas C. Goldstein, Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP, Washington, D.C.; and Pamela S. Karlan and Jeffrey L. Fisher, Stanford Law School Supreme Court Litigation Clinic, Stanford, CA.