The right to not testify

SAN FRANCISCO — The Ninth Circuit found that a Washington federal court improperly convicted a man for Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm during an armed robbery. The defendant has tattoos covering the backs of his hands and says the district court erred in compelling him to take the stand as a prerequisite for showing his hand tattoos to the jury, which the appellate panel rules a violation of his Fifth Amendment right to not testify. He was cross-examined even though the display of his hands was not testimonial evidence that should make him subject to cross-examination.Read the ruling here.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads