Maryland v. Craig

497 U.S. 836 (1990)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

Craig (D) operated a preschool. D was accused of sexually molesting a six-year-old (Etze). The trial judge, citing a state law, allowed Etze to testify via closed-circuit television. The judge ruled that live testimony in front of D would endanger Etze's psychological well-being. Etze testified from another room, in front of P and defense counsel. The court and jury viewed the testimony on a video monitor. D was convicted. The Maryland Court of Appeals reversed, holding that the procedure used violated the Sixth Amendment's Confrontation Clause. The Supreme Court granted certiorari.