Smith v. Illinois

Opinion of the Court by

Mr. Justice Stewart,

announced by Mr. Justice Fortas.

In Pointer v. Texas, 380 U. S. 400, 403, this Court held that the Sixth Amendment right of an accused to confront the witnesses against him is a “fundamental right . . . made obligatory on the States by the Fourteenth Amendment.” The question presented in this case is whether Illinois denied that right to the petitioner, Fleming Smith. He was convicted in a criminal court of Cook County, Illinois, upon a charge of illegal sale of narcotics, and his conviction was affirmed on appeal.1 *130We granted certiorari to consider…