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Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963)

Full notes and cites: https://opinion-of-the-court.pages.dev/ep/083-brady-v-maryland

Official text (U.S. Reports, Library of Congress): https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/usrep/usrep373/usrep373083/usrep373083.pdf

Full text of the opinions, AI-narrated (Kokoro-82M, voice af_heart). Original introduction; opinion text is public domain. Not legal advice.

John Brady and his companion Charles Boblit were convicted separately of a 1958 murder during a robbery in Maryland, and both were sentenced to death. Brady admitted taking part but said Boblit did the killing. Before trial, Brady's lawyer asked to see Boblit's statements. The prosecution handed over several but withheld one in which Boblit admitted strangling the victim himself.

Justice Douglas, for the Court, held that the suppression by the prosecution of evidence favorable to an accused upon request violates due process where the evidence is material either to guilt or to punishment, irrespective of the good faith or bad faith of the prosecution. Because the statement went to punishment, not guilt, Brady got a new sentencing hearing.

Justice White concurred, and Justice Harlan, joined by Justice Black, dissented in part. The "Brady obligation" now requires prosecutors in every criminal case to disclose favorable evidence, and failures to do so are a leading cause of overturned convictions.

Citations: reporter citations were shortened or left out of the audio; every citation is listed on the website.

Cases named aloud

- United States ex rel. Thompson v. Dye, 221 F.2d 763 [as printed: United States ex rel. Thompson v. Dye, 221 F. 2d 763; Opinion of the Court (Mr. Justice Douglas)] (episode link pending)

- Third Circuit Court of Appeals — United States ex rel. Almeida v. Baldi, 195 F.2d 815 [as printed: Third Circuit Court of Appeals — United States ex rel. Almeida v. Baldi, 195 F. 2d 815; Opinion of the Court (Mr. Justice Douglas)] (episode link pending)

- Mooney v. Holohan, 294 U.S. 103 at 112 [as printed: Mooney v. Holohan, 294 U. S. 103, 112; Opinion of the Court (Mr. Justice Douglas)] (episode link pending)

- Pyle v. Kansas, 317 U.S. 213 at 215-216 [as printed: Pyle v. Kansas, 317 U. S. 213, 215-216; Opinion of the Court (Mr. Justice Douglas)] (episode link pending)

- 820. In Napue v. Illinois, 360 U.S. 264 at 269 [as printed: 820. In Napue v. Illinois, 360 U. S. 264, 269; Opinion of the Court (Mr. Justice Douglas)] episode

- Giles v. State, 229 Md. 370 [as printed: Giles v. State, 229 Md. 370, 183 A. 2d 359; Opinion of the Court (Mr. Justice Douglas)] (episode link pending)

- Wheeler v. State, 42 Md. 563 at 570 [as printed: Wheeler v. State, 42 Md. 563, 570; Opinion of the Court (Mr. Justice Douglas)] (episode link pending)

- Bell v. State, 57 Md. 108 at 120 [as printed: Bell v. State, supra, at 120; Opinion of the Court (Mr. Justice Douglas)] (episode link pending)

- Williams v. New York, 337 U.S. 241 [as printed: Williams v. New York, 337 U. S. 241; Opinion of the Court (Mr. Justice Douglas)] episode

- Bell v. Hood, 327 U.S. 678 [as printed: Bell v. Hood, 327 U. S. 678; Opinion of the Court (Mr. Justice Douglas)] (episode link pending)

(+7 more named aloud; see the website)

Full list of 31 citations not read aloud: https://opinion-of-the-court.pages.dev/ep/083-brady-v-maryland