United States v. Scheffer
Encyclopedia
United States v. Scheffer, , was the first case in which the Supreme Court
issued a ruling with regard to the highly controversial matter of polygraph
, or "lie-detector," testing. At issue was whether the per se exclusion of polygraph evidence offered by the accused in a military court violates the Sixth Amendment
right to present a defense.
evidence
inadmissible in court-martial proceedings, does not unconstitutionally abridge the
right of accused members of the military to present a defense.
noted in the Washington Post, "at a time when polygraph machines are increasingly being used outside the courtroom"--and inside as well. Prosecutors were using polygraph results "to extract confessions from suspects," Biskupic observed, and defense lawyers were using "them for leverage in plea bargains"; likewise polygraph tests were being subjected to greater and greater use in the workplace. Employers were using them to test job applicants with regard to past
wrongdoing, and to monitor present jobholders as well. While the latter practice might raise Fourth Amendment
questions of its own, the use of polygraph
results in the courtroom had become a battleground for opposing factions of evidentiary experts.
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
issued a ruling with regard to the highly controversial matter of polygraph
Polygraph
A polygraph measures and records several physiological indices such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while the subject is asked and answers a series of questions...
, or "lie-detector," testing. At issue was whether the per se exclusion of polygraph evidence offered by the accused in a military court violates the Sixth Amendment
Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights which sets forth rights related to criminal prosecutions...
right to present a defense.
Opinion of the Court
Military Rule of Evidence 707, which makes polygraphPolygraph
A polygraph measures and records several physiological indices such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while the subject is asked and answers a series of questions...
evidence
inadmissible in court-martial proceedings, does not unconstitutionally abridge the
right of accused members of the military to present a defense.
Significance
The United States v. Scheffer ruling came, as legal writer Joan BiskupicJoan Biskupic
Joan Biskupic is an American journalist, author, and lawyer who has covered the United States Supreme Court since 1989. She has been the Legal Affairs Correspondent for USA Today since June 2000. From 1992 to 2000, she was the Supreme Court reporter for The Washington Post, and from 1989 to 1992...
noted in the Washington Post, "at a time when polygraph machines are increasingly being used outside the courtroom"--and inside as well. Prosecutors were using polygraph results "to extract confessions from suspects," Biskupic observed, and defense lawyers were using "them for leverage in plea bargains"; likewise polygraph tests were being subjected to greater and greater use in the workplace. Employers were using them to test job applicants with regard to past
wrongdoing, and to monitor present jobholders as well. While the latter practice might raise Fourth Amendment
Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the Bill of Rights which guards against unreasonable searches and seizures, along with requiring any warrant to be judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause...
questions of its own, the use of polygraph
Polygraph
A polygraph measures and records several physiological indices such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while the subject is asked and answers a series of questions...
results in the courtroom had become a battleground for opposing factions of evidentiary experts.
See also
- List of United States Supreme Court cases, volume 523
- List of United States Supreme Court cases
- Lists of United States Supreme Court cases by volume