Blount v. Hardy

I concur in the court’s opinion and in the conclusion that “the North Carolina Court of Appeal’s determination ... is not unreasonable” under current Supreme Court precedent. Ante at 12. I write separately to express my concern about what I see as a very troubling case that would have benefitted from clearer guidance as to how the Confrontation Clause applies to the out-of-court statement of a child witness who is unavailable to testify because of her very young age.

I

Donald Blount was convicted in North Carolina state court of the rape and sexual molestation of a child and sentenced to prison…