Jenkins v. Anderson
United States Supreme Court
447 U.S. 231 (1980)
Relevant factsFree
Jenkins (defendant) stabbed a man to death and did not report the incident to his probation officer until two weeks later. At trial, Jenkins raised self-defense, and the prosecution cross-examined him about his delay in reporting the stabbing and referenced it again during closing argument. Jenkins was convicted, and his conviction was upheld on appeal before he sought review by the U.S. Supreme Court.
IssueFree
Whether using a defendant's silence prior to arrest for impeachment purposes at trial violates the defendant's Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment rights.