Hate ads? Verify for LSD+ → Learn More

Case Citation
Legal Case Name

HARRIS v. NEW YORK Case Brief

Supreme Court of United States1971
401 U.S. 222 91 S.Ct. 643 28 L.Ed.2d 1

Why Top Law Students (And Those Aspiring to Be) Use LSD+ Briefs

Let's be real, law school is a marathon. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full case system is designed by Harvard Law School and MIT grads to match your pace: Quick summaries when you're slammed, detailed analysis when you need to go deep. Only LSD+ offers this kind of flexibility to genuinely fit your study flow.

Adaptive Case Views

Toggle between Flash, Standard, and Expanded. Get what you need, when you need it.

Exam-Ready IRAC Format

We deliver the precise structure professors look for in exam answers.

Complex Cases, Clarified

We break down dense legal reasoning into something digestible, helping you grasp core concepts.

Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
3 min read

tl;dr: A defendant’s statement to police, inadmissible as direct evidence due to a Miranda violation, was used to challenge his credibility when he testified differently at trial. The Supreme Court permitted this, creating an impeachment exception to the Miranda rule.

Legal Significance: This case establishes the impeachment exception to the Miranda exclusionary rule. A voluntary statement taken in violation of Miranda, while inadmissible in the prosecution’s case-in-chief, can be used to impeach a testifying defendant’s credibility.

HARRIS v. NEW YORK Law School Study Guide

Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.

Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

Petitioner Harris was indicted for selling heroin to an undercover officer on two occasions. At trial, Harris took the stand and testified that he did not make the first sale and that the second sale involved baking powder, not heroin, as part of a scheme to defraud the buyer. On cross-examination, the prosecutor questioned Harris about statements he had made to police following his arrest. These statements partially contradicted his trial testimony regarding the sales. The prosecution conceded that the post-arrest statements were obtained without providing the full warnings required by Miranda v. Arizona, specifically failing to inform Harris of his right to appointed counsel, and were thus inadmissible in its case-in-chief. Harris made no claim that his statements were coerced or involuntary. The trial judge issued a limiting instruction, informing the jury that the statements could be considered only in assessing Harris’s credibility and not as evidence of guilt. Harris was convicted, and the New York Court of Appeals affirmed.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: May a statement that is inadmissible against a defendant in the prosecution’s case-in-chief because it was obtained in violation of the procedural safeguards outlined in Miranda v. Arizona be used to impeach that defendant’s credibility if he testifies in his own defense?

Yes. The Court held that a defendant’s prior inconsistent statement, though obtained Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit a

Master Every Case Faster

Unlock premium legal analysis that helps you quickly understand complex cases, designed by Harvard Law and MIT graduates. It's about working smarter, not just harder.

Start 14-Day Free Trial

Thousands of students are already saving time and gaining clarity. Why not you?

IRAC Legal Analysis

Premium Feature Unlock

Complete IRAC Analysis for Higher Grades

IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.

Legal Issue

May a statement that is inadmissible against a defendant in the prosecution’s case-in-chief because it was obtained in violation of the procedural safeguards outlined in Miranda v. Arizona be used to impeach that defendant’s credibility if he testifies in his own defense?

Conclusion

This case created a significant limitation on the *Miranda* doctrine, establishing that Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehen

Legal Rule

A statement made by a defendant to law enforcement that is inadmissible Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit ess

Legal Analysis

The Court's analysis centered on balancing the deterrent purpose of the *Miranda* Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est la

Flash-to-Full Case Opinions

Flash Summary

  • Statements obtained in violation of Miranda, while inadmissible in the prosecution’s
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate v

Master Every Case Faster

Unlock premium legal analysis that helps you quickly understand complex cases, designed by Harvard Law and MIT graduates. It's about working smarter, not just harder.

Start 14-Day Free Trial

Thousands of students are already saving time and gaining clarity. Why not you?

Hate ads? Verify for LSD+ → Learn More