Baldwin v. New York, 399 U.S. 66 (1970), was a decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in which the Court ruled that defendants have a Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial for offenses requiring imprisonment of more than six months.[1]
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, 24 N.Y.2d 207, 247 N.E.2d 260 (1969)
Reargument denied sub. nom., People v. Baldwin, 27 N.Y.2d 737, 262 N.E.2d 683 (1970)
Probable jurisdiction noted, Baldwin v. New York, 395U.S. 932 (1969)
Holding
A defendant accused of a serious offense must be afforded the right to a trial by jury, while a petty offense does not give a defendant a right to a jury trial.
In 1968, the Warren court incorporated the Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial and applied it to the states. In Duncan, the defendant had been convicted of battery, which under Louisiana law was punishable by up to two years in prison. The majority opinion, authored by Justice Byron White, noted that in 49 of the 50 states, "petty offenses" were punishable by no more than one year in jail. Therefore, a crime with a possible two-year sentence was out of step with the common law definition of "petty" thus necessitating a right to trial by jury.[3]
Decisionedit
The majority opinion, authored by Justice Byron White, narrowed the decision of Duncan v. Louisiana by holding that a right to a jury trial is required for all crimes where the penalty exceeds six months imprisonment. The opinion explicitly disagreed with the prosecution's argument that the line should be drawn between misdemeanor and felony, and noted that every other state had reduced punishment for non-jury trials to no more than six months.[1]
Text of Baldwin v. New York, 399U.S. 66 (1970) is available from:CornellGoogle ScholarJustiaLibrary of CongressOyez (oral argument audio)
April 12, 2024
baldwin, york, confused, with, baldwin, united, states, 1970, decision, supreme, court, which, court, ruled, that, defendants, have, sixth, amendment, right, jury, trial, offenses, requiring, imprisonment, more, than, months, supreme, court, united, statesargu. Not to be confused with Baldwin v United States Baldwin v New York 399 U S 66 1970 was a decision of the U S Supreme Court in which the Court ruled that defendants have a Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial for offenses requiring imprisonment of more than six months 1 Baldwin v New YorkSupreme Court of the United StatesArgued Dec 9 1969Decided June 22 1970Full case nameRobert Baldwin v State of New YorkCitations399 U S 66 more 90 S Ct 1886 26 L Ed 2d 437ArgumentOral argumentCase historyPriorHogan v Rosenberg 58 Misc 2d 585 296 N Y S 2d 584 Sup Ct 1968 Affirmed in part reversed in part 24 N Y 2d 207 247 N E 2d 260 1969 Reargument denied sub nom People v Baldwin 27 N Y 2d 737 262 N E 2d 683 1970 Probable jurisdiction noted Baldwin v New York 395 U S 932 1969 HoldingA defendant accused of a serious offense must be afforded the right to a trial by jury while a petty offense does not give a defendant a right to a jury trial Court membershipChief Justice Warren E Burger Associate Justices Hugo Black William O DouglasJohn M Harlan II William J Brennan Jr Potter Stewart Byron WhiteThurgood Marshall Harry BlackmunCase opinionsMajorityWhite joined by Brennan and MarshallConcurrenceBlack joined by DouglasDissentBurgerBlackmun took no part in the consideration or decision of the case Laws appliedSixth Amendment to the United States Constitution Contents 1 Background 1 1 Duncan v Louisiana 2 Decision 3 References 4 External linksBackground editRobert Baldwin was arrested in New York City for jostling Under the New York City Criminal Court Act his trial was conducted without a jury despite his request for a jury trial Baldwin was convicted and sentenced to one year in prison following which he appealed the case arguing that the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution granted him the right to a jury trial 2 Duncan v Louisiana edit Main article Duncan v Louisiana In 1968 the Warren court incorporated the Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial and applied it to the states In Duncan the defendant had been convicted of battery which under Louisiana law was punishable by up to two years in prison The majority opinion authored by Justice Byron White noted that in 49 of the 50 states petty offenses were punishable by no more than one year in jail Therefore a crime with a possible two year sentence was out of step with the common law definition of petty thus necessitating a right to trial by jury 3 Decision editThe majority opinion authored by Justice Byron White narrowed the decision of Duncan v Louisiana by holding that a right to a jury trial is required for all crimes where the penalty exceeds six months imprisonment The opinion explicitly disagreed with the prosecution s argument that the line should be drawn between misdemeanor and felony and noted that every other state had reduced punishment for non jury trials to no more than six months 1 References edit a b Baldwin v New York 399 U S 66 1970 Baldwin v New York Case Briefs Retrieved June 18 2020 Duncan v Louisiana 391 U S 145 1968 External links editText of Baldwin v New York 399 U S 66 1970 is available from Cornell Google Scholar Justia Library of Congress Oyez oral argument audio Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Baldwin v New York amp oldid 1175138810, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
