herring new york argued february decided june total denial opportunity final summation nonjury criminal trial well jury trial deprives accused basic right make defense new york statute granting every judge nonjury criminal trial power deny summation rendition judgment denies accused assistance counsel guaranteed sixth amendment constitution applied fourteenth pp app div vacated remanded stewart delivered opinion douglas brennan white marshall powell joined rehnquist filed dissenting opinion burger blackmun joined post diana steele argued cause appellant briefs william hellerstein gabriel levy assistant attorney general new york norman morse argued cause appellee morse brief louis lefkowitz attorney general new york pro se samuel hirshowitz first assistant attorney general joel lewittes levy assistant attorneys general filed brief attorney general new york justice stewart delivered opinion new york law confers upon every judge nonjury criminal trial power deny counsel opportunity make summation evidence rendition judgment crim proc law case us called upon assess constitutional validity law appellant brought trial richmond county upon charges attempted robbery first third degrees possession dangerous instrument waived jury trial began thursday certain preliminaries balance day friday spent case prosecution complaining witness allen braxton testified appellant approached outside home staten island housing project six evening september asked money said refused demand appellant swung knife appellant lawyer attempted impeach credibility evidence demonstrating inconsistencies braxton testimony sworn statements braxton previously made witness prosecution police officer arrested appellant upon complaint braxton officer testified braxton reported alleged incident appellant confronted officer later evening denied braxton story said working taylor time alleged offense officer testified arrested appellant found small knife pocket close case prosecution granted defense motion dismiss charge possession dangerous instrument ground knife evidence small qualify dangerous instrument state law trial adjourned weekend proceedings actually resume following monday afternoon first witness defense donald taylor appellant employer testified recalled seeing appellant job premises day alleged offense appellant took stand denied braxton story said working refrigerator place employment time alleged offense testified braxton former neighbor threatened several occasions fix refusing give braxton money wine drugs conclusion case defense counsel made motion dismiss robbery charges motion denied appellant lawyer requested heard somewhat facts trial judge replied new statute summation discretionary choose hear summations judge thereupon found appellant guilty attempted robbery third degree subsequently sentenced serve indeterminate term imprisonment maximum four years conviction affirmed without opinion intermediate appellate leave appeal new york appeals denied appeal brought noted probable jurisdiction ii sixth amendment guarantees accused criminal prosecutions rights speedy public trial impartial jury notice nature cause accusation confronted opposing witnesses compulsory process defense witnesses assistance counsel fundamental rights extended defendant state criminal prosecution fourteenth amendment decisions given constitutional provisions narrowly literalistic construction specifically right assistance counsel understood mean restrictions upon function counsel defending criminal prosecution accord traditions adversary factfinding process constitutionalized sixth fourteenth amendments example ferguson georgia held constitutionally invalid state statute permitting defendant make unsworn statement jury prevented defense counsel eliciting defendant testimony direct examination similarly brooks tennessee found unconstitutional state law restricted right counsel decide whether course presenting defense accused take stand right assistance counsel thus given meaning ensures defense criminal trial opportunity participate fully fairly adversary factfinding process doubt closing argument defense basic element adversary factfinding process criminal trial accordingly universally held counsel defense right make closing summation jury matter strong case prosecution may appear presiding judge issue considered less often context bench trial overwhelming weight authority federal state courts holds total denial opportunity final argument nonjury criminal trial denial basic right accused make defense one many cases holding yopps state md defendant case indicted burglary tried without jury defendant testimony admitted vicinity offense denied involvement crime conclusion testimony trial judge announced judgment guilty defense counsel objected stating wished present argument facts trial judge refused hear argument ground question credibility involved therefore counsel argument change mind maryland appeals held trial refusal permit defense counsel make final summation violated defendant right assistance counsel state federal constitutions constitutional right defendant heard counsel necessarily includes right counsel make proper argument evidence applicable law favor however simple clear unimpeached conclusive evidence may seem unless waived right argument unless argument within issues case trial discretion deny accused right hardly questioned closing argument serves sharpen clarify issues resolution trier fact criminal case evidence counsel parties position present respective versions case whole argue inferences drawn testimony point weaknesses adversaries positions defense closing argument last clear chance persuade trier fact may reasonable doubt defendant guilt see winship premise adversary system criminal justice partisan advocacy sides case best promote ultimate objective guilty convicted innocent go free criminal trial end basically factfinding process aspect advocacy important opportunity finally marshal evidence side submission case judgment say closing arguments criminal case must uncontrolled even unrestrained presiding judge must given great latitude controlling duration limiting scope closing summations may limit counsel reasonable time may terminate argument continuation repetitive redundant may ensure argument stray unduly mark otherwise impede fair orderly conduct trial respects must broad discretion see generally anderson wharton criminal law procedure cf american bar association project standards criminal justice prosecution function pp defense function pp app draft justification statute empowers trial judge deny absolutely opportunity closing summation conceivable interest served statute expediency yet difference case total denial final argument concise persuasive summation spell difference defendant liberty unjust imprisonment cases may appear trial judge simple open shut close evidence surely many cases closing argument words justice jackson likely leave judge found surely cases closing argument may correct premature misjudgment avoid otherwise erroneous verdict certain way trial judge identify accurately cases judge heard closing summation counsel present case illustrative trial interrupted interval two days period judge memory may well dimmed however conscientious may conclusion evidence trial final day appellant lawyer might usefully pointed direct conflict trial testimony two prosecution witnesses concerning appellant found evening alleged offense might also stressed many inconsistencies elicited trial testimony complaining witness earlier sworn statements might reasonably argued testimony appellant employer entitled greater credibility complaining witness according appellant threatened fix personal differences past way know whether appropriate arguments summation might affected ultimate judgment case credibility assessment solely trier fact determination made appellant counsel right heard summation evidence point view favorable denying appellant right authority statute new york denied assistance counsel constitution guarantees accordingly judgment us vacated case remanded proceedings inconsistent opinion ordered footnotes may discretion permit parties deliver summations grants permission one party must grant also parties deliver summations defendant summation must delivered first penal law braxton appellant lawyer demonstrated following inconsistencies first braxton testified trial running house evade appellant look back outside see appellant gone grand jury braxton said entering house looked outside appellant gone second braxton testified trial knifeblade shiny grand jury testimony said remember shiny third braxton testified trial appellant asked money soft voice grand jury stated request money kind loud fourth braxton testified trial appellant swung blade felony complaint filed day alleged crime stated appellant swung knife couple times major inconsistency police officer testimony braxton braxton testified walking street officer came across appellant officer testified searched appellant braxton separated hour later seen appellant braxton opposite sides broadway thus braxton testified officer together found appellant officer testimony separated braxton next saw braxton appellant opposite sides street subsequently certified affirming judgment rejected appellant constitutional claims upon appeal herein presented passed upon following constitutional question namely whether relator rights fourth sixth fourteenth amendments denied trial application paragraph subdivision cpl refuse appellant permission deliver summation considered appellant said conviction determined none constitutional rights violated sixth amendment provides criminal prosecutions accused shall enjoy right speedy public trial impartial jury informed nature cause accusation confronted witnesses compulsory process obtaining witnesses favor assistance counsel defence see klopfer north carolina speedy trial oliver public trial duncan louisiana jury trial cole arkansas notice nature cause accusation pointer texas confrontation washington texas compulsory process gideon wainwright argersinger hamlin assistance counsel see jackson state yeldell state people green cal state hoyt hall state williams state porter state app state gilbert idaho people mcmullen lynch state ind state verry sizemore commonwealth state cancienne la ann wingo state miss state page mo state tighe mont state shedoudy people marcelin app div state hardy weaver state ohio state rogoway rehearing stewart commonwealth state ballenger word commonwealth state mayo seattle erickson one treatise general rule follows presentation defense argument jury counsel constitutional right defendant may denied however clear evidence may seem trial anderson wharton criminal law procedure see walls thomas district columbia app ex rel spears johnson supp ed rev grounds ex rel wilcox pennsylvania supp ed floyd state olds commonwealth yopps state md people thomas decker state ohio commonwealth mcnair super commonwealth gambrell anselin state tex cr walker state tex cr ferguson state tex cr cf collingsworth mayo state hollingsworth la see people manske cf people berger casterlow state ind reed state ind lewis state app stephen described trial procedure period long argument prisoner counsel crown stephen history criminal law england fuller description trial process period see see anne stat cf stephen supra colonies similar reform criminal defendants rights occurred common practice right apparently gave accused opportunity sum case closing argument example zephaniah swift early colonial treatise law connecticut wrote exhibition evidence closed attorney state opens argument counsel prisoner follow attorney state closes argument chief justice sums evidence charge delivered jury candid impartial manner evidence law arguments counsel state well prisoner swift system laws state connecticut england right defendant criminal trial make closing argument either counsel represented given express statutory recognition pon every trial whether prisoners shall defended counsel prisoner shall entitled evidence concluded sum evidence respectively criminal procedure act remains rule england halsbury laws england pp ed see also butler garsia archibold pleading evidence practice criminal cases ed cf wainwright cox cr cas wickham cr app noted crim rev deal case final argument summation conclusion evidence criminal trial nothing said opinion understood implying existence constitutional right oral argument stage trial appellate process jackson struggle judicial supremacy contention made right make closing argument recognized jury trial insufficient justification right context bench trial view rests premise judge legal training experience likely see case clearly rendering argument superfluous recognize illumination issues helpful case permit closing argument find contention unpersuasive judicial training expertise however may enhance judgment render memory reasoning infallible moreover one important respect closing argument may even important bench trial trial jury justice powell observed collective judgment jury tends compensate individual shortcomings furnishes assurance reliable decision powell jury trial crimes lee rev contrast judge tries case presumably reach verdict deliberation contemplation must reach without stimulation opposing viewpoints inherent collegial process jury see supra see supra defendant exercised right conduct defense course right make closing argument see faretta california ante justice rehnquist chief justice justice blackmun join dissenting made curious case began constitutional challenge statute gives trial courts discretion whether parties may deliver summations transformed exploration right counsel although one doubts appellant competently represented throughout proceedings resulted conviction today opinion deriving right counsel rights relating conduct trial expands earlier holdings ferguson georgia brooks tennessee three instances one must presume view analytical approach regardless intrinsic importance rights involved enforced accused prior right assistance third party preparation presentation defense think instance statement justice frankfurter separate opinion ferguson apropos case present case crucial fact counsel wishes present summation evidence defendant whether counsel otherwise wishes make summation course suggest rights enforced cases without basis least particular cases due process clause fourteenth amendment cf opinion frankfurter brooks tennessee supra rehnquist dissenting suggest analytical framework resulting prophylactic rule wrongly employed decide case thought faretta california ante recanted approach ferguson brooks faretta concluded sixth amendment clause amendment constitutionalizes right adversary criminal trial make defense know ante yet present case informed clause constitutionalizes right present defense accord traditions adversary factfinding process ante content merely contradict faretta holding entitlement traditions judicial system depends upon right retain counsel also course right make closing argument available choose exercise right counsel ante complete confusion explain latter ipse dixit cite one case faretta ii due process clause fourteenth amendment long recognized assuring fundamental fairness state criminal proceedings see lisenba california moore dempsey throughout history clause generally considered question fairness basis reflecting fact elements fairness vary circumstances particular proceedings observed snyder massachusetts due process law requires proceedings shall fair fairness relative absolute concept fair one set circumstances may act tyranny others however instances engaged process specific incorporation whereby certain provisions bill rights applied see cases cited ante making decision whether particular provision relating conduct trial incorporated guided whether right question may deemed essential fundamental fairness analytical approach compelled remain true basic orientation due process clause see oliver public trial duncan louisiana jury trial pointer texas confrontation washington texas compulsory process gideon wainwright appointed counsel determined particular right incorporated abandoned considerations fairness incorporation effect results establishment strict prophylactic rule one generally observed every case regardless particular circumstances judgment part probability unfairness absence particular right great denigration right countenanced circumstances judgments reflect similar judgments made constitution framers regard federal government beyond certain specified rights bill rights however understand basis abandoning approach fundamental fairness myriad rules practices governing conduct criminal proceedings may may particular circumstances necessary assure fundamental fairness obvious examples rules governing introduction testing evidence well think new york rule governing summations nonjury trials matters specifically dealt text constitution subject judgment uniform application particular rule necessary likelihood unfairness great rule observed matters appropriate frequently necessary trial judges accorded considerable discretion subject course appellate review standard ultimately fundamental fairness inquiry fourteenth amendment present case prime example prophylactic rule regard summations nonjury trials thoroughly inappropriate case tried judge unlike jury may take notes testimony experienced judging credibility witnesses testing relevance testimony elements must proved obtain conviction case conceptually factually simple one involving whether one believe victim despite inconsistencies testimony defendant judge previously permitted appellant counsel summarize evidence occasion motion dismiss close state case appellant counsel considerable faith judge familiarity ability organize evidence shown transcript earlier summation adams want hear extensively judge witness go rather hear lengthy argument subsequently judge hear anything say adams right judge believe matter law doubt firstly first witness prosecution judge numerous inconsistencies bore reading course copious notes sure fresh mind top judge questionable complainant questionable way happened witness complainant officer checked particular matter testified said man working time definite denial defendant believe matter law judge reasonable doubt app emphasis added whatever theoretical effect denial argument may judgment conviction practical effect outcome must close nothing trial judge conducting moot sitting finder fact trial present testimony every single witness experienced advocate insist presenting argument judge indicated belief argument assistance trial counsel insist claim today sustained urged counsel truth matter appellant received fair trial read opinion claim otherwise opinion instead establishes right summation criminal trials regardless circumstances tagging right onto one specifically incorporated rights thereby conveniently avoids difficulties unable characterize appellant trial fundamentally unfair expense ignoring logical difficulty adorning specifically incorporated rights characteristics necessary fundamental fairness nature right today creates curious genesis apparently requires nothing pro forma observance since trial judge must given great latitude controlling duration limiting scope closing summations may determine reasonable time argument point argument becomes repetitive redundant strays unduly mark respects must broad discretion ante seconds minimal period argument judge free exercise discretion clear true certain way trial judge identify accurately cases closing argument may beneficial judge heard closing summation counsel ante equally true determine whether continued argument repetitive redundant otherwise useless heard continued argument event constitutional issue rather quickly become framed according standards governed along whether judge actions particular case deprived defendant trial fundamentally fair propagating right summation despite right lack textual basis despite inability reasonably conclude right basic chance trial discretion matter furthered practice reviewing state criminal trials piecemeal fashion incident upon reversal based one stage carefully conducted trial claimed permeated entire proceeding trial without jury without counsel thus disregarding basic question whether proceeding defendant deprived liberty fundamentally fair decision derives support either logic amendment professes apply since reverses criminal conviction fairly obtained dissent employer credibility issue vague times seen appellant garage garage located blocks scene crime app colloquy end trial follows adams judge time respectfully move make two motions judge firstly dismiss two counts first count second count indictment grounds people failed make prima facie case grounds people failed prove defendant guilty every part parcel crimes charged count one count two beyond reasonable doubt matter law matter fact motion denied take short recess deliberate give verdict adams well heard somewhat facts new statute summation discretionary choose hear summations clerk remand app ante presents variety arguments supporting wisdom desirability generally permitting closing arguments nonjury trials none impress rising level fundamental fairness substantial merit presented new york legislature hardly relevant constitutional inquiry duty perform final flourish aspect advocacy important obvious hyperbole uttered complete disregard matters selection trial strategy witnesses attempts exclude unconstitutionally obtained evidence also think unlikely holding briefing adequate substitute oral summation since meets concerns expresses basis newly found constitutional right see ante