Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, 557 U.S. 305 (2009)

Jun 25, 2009

OUTCOME: Won

Attorney Mary T. Rogers, won a United States Supreme Court case, Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, 557 U.S. 305 (2009), with co-counsel. The case broke new law and overturned 90 years of law. The case ... held that the government cannot just introduce a drug certificate as evidence that the substance seized was cocaine. The government has to bring in the live witness, because the defendant has the right to confront and right to cross-examine the witness under the Sixth Amendment. The ruling is not limited to just drug cases. It applies to all cases whenever the government wants to introduce forensic evidence. This case has helped defendants all over the country. The Washington Post reported a quote that, "This is the biggest case for the defense since Miranda."