Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Jackson v. Denno hearing: A court proceeding held to determine whether a defendant's confession was voluntary and can be used as evidence. This hearing is held outside the presence of the jury. The purpose of this hearing is to ensure that the defendant's rights are protected and that any evidence used against them is obtained legally.
Jackson v. Denno hearing
A Jackson v. Denno hearing is a court proceeding that takes place outside the presence of the jury to determine whether a defendant's confession was voluntary and can be used as evidence in court. This hearing is named after the landmark case Jackson v. Denno, which established the right to a hearing to determine the admissibility of a confession.
For example, if a defendant confesses to a crime, the defense may argue that the confession was coerced or obtained through improper means. In this case, the court would hold a Jackson v. Denno hearing to determine whether the confession was voluntary and can be used as evidence in the trial.
Another example would be if a defendant claims that they were not read their Miranda rights before confessing. The court would hold a Jackson v. Denno hearing to determine whether the confession was obtained in violation of the defendant's rights.
The examples illustrate how a Jackson v. Denno hearing is used to determine the admissibility of a defendant's confession. The hearing is held outside the presence of the jury to avoid prejudicing them with potentially inadmissible evidence. The court will consider factors such as whether the defendant was coerced or threatened, whether they understood their rights, and whether they made the confession voluntarily. The outcome of the hearing can have a significant impact on the trial's outcome, as a confession can be a powerful piece of evidence for the prosecution.