Williams v. People

The bases of my dissent go to procedural matters, and will be identified and discussed. Procedure, as it is profitable to observe, is broad in its significance, and contemplates pleading, practice and evidence. In criminal prosecutions, procedure is of first consideration. Upon the rules thereof, whether of common-law development or of legislative enactment, or however emanating, all born of the spirit to proceed humanely in the administration of criminal justice, rests much of human progress. The rules, their background, their office in man’s scheme of justice, their inspirational force,…