Pitts v. Mississippi

Questions presented

SCOTUS records

Question presented

Opinion summary

Etalia.ai summary of the majority opinion

The Court held that Mississippi violated the Sixth Amendment when it allowed a child witness to testify behind a screen without first making a case-specific finding that the screen was necessary. The Court said prior decisions allow shielding a child witness only after the trial court hears evidence and finds necessity in the particular case, not merely because a state statute generally authorizes screening. It rejected Mississippi’s attempts to distinguish those decisions based on the state constitution, the statute’s mandatory terms, the child’s age, whether identity was disputed, or the fact that a screen was used instead of closed-circuit television. The Court also rejected the State’s claim that the trial court had actually made the required finding, explaining that the State relied on the statute rather than proof. The judgment was reversed and the case was remanded. The Court noted, however, that harmless-error analysis may still apply on remand.