Ford v. United States

STEADMAN, Associate Judge:

This case centers around a stabbing incident involving three young cousins living in the same household. Appellant, James Ford, was unconstitutionally denied the opportunity to cross-examine one of the witnesses (his cousin Warren Washington) to show bias or, more specifically, motive to lie. We therefore must reverse.

I

Ford lived in the same household with Warren and Reymonte Washington, cousins to each other and to Ford. The stabbing took place in the nighttime in the third-floor bedroom where Warren and Reymonte were sleeping. (Ford normally also slept in that…