Trammel v. United States
United States Supreme Court
445 U.S. 40 (1980)
Relevant factsFree
Otis Trammel (defendant) was charged with heroin importation, and his wife Elizabeth, also involved, agreed to testify against him in exchange for leniency; Otis objected based on marital privilege, but the district court allowed Elizabeth to testify about acts she observed and statements made in third parties' presence, and he was convicted.
IssueFree
Whether a defendant may invoke the spousal immunity privilege to exclude the voluntary testimony of his wife.