Question

What is anonymous testimony and how does that impact the rights of U.S. citizens? Discuss a case when it has been permitted and what happened in that case.

Answer 1

Answer)

Anonymity is defined to be a part of keeping some of the identity of the witness details to be hidden from that of the defense as well as the public. The defense might be aware of who is testifying against him/her along with the contents of that specific testimony, but anonymity is certainly different.

When anonymity is provided or granted then the offender might not know as to who the witness was and this could be a complex aspect for witnessing the protection along with bearing the right to defense. But this impacts as there is a challenge of genuineness, accuracy as well as sincerity of specific testimony.

A case when this was permitted was during trails at Chicago wherein then the defense lawyer was not able to cross-examine thoroughly about the agent who was involved in drug trafficking and didn't know the ways that could be used for interrogation or any other specifics. They were not able to investigate or know the credibility of the witness as their identities were not really known.

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