Legal Opinion
Nutter v. State
Court of Special Appeals of Maryland
Decided February 10, 1970No. 200, September Term, 1969PublishedCited by 39 opinions
1Opinion of the CourtOrth, J.
I
THE PRIVILEGE OF NONDISCLOSURE OF THE IDENTITY OF INFORMERS
The Rule
In Maryland the State has the privilege to withhold from disclosure the identity of persons who furnish information to police officers concerning the commission of crimes. This general rule was recognized in Drouin v. State, 222 Md. 271 and reaffirmed in Gulick v. State, 252 Md. 348. “That the government has this privilege is well established, and its soundness cannot be questioned.” 8 Wigmore, Evidence (1961) § 2374, p. 762. Its purpose is the furtherance and protection of the public interest in effective law enforcement.…
2Cases cited28 opinions
- Aguilar v. TexasSupreme Court of the United States · 1964
- Spinelli v. United StatesSupreme Court of the United States · 1969
- Robinson v. CaliforniaSupreme Court of the United States · 1962
- McCray v. IllinoisSupreme Court of the United States · 1967
- Alford v. United StatesSupreme Court of the United States · 1931
23 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by39 opinions
- Andresen v. StateCourt of Special Appeals of Maryland · 1975
- Stanley v. StateCourt of Special Appeals of Maryland · 1974
- State v. MilliganSupreme Court of New Jersey · 1976
- Hignut v. StateCourt of Special Appeals of Maryland · 1973
- Whittington v. StateCourt of Special Appeals of Maryland · 1970
34 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.