Harris v. New York

Facts

The State of New York charged petition in a two-count indictment with twice selling heroin to an undercover police officer. At a subsequent jury trial the officer was the State’s chief witness, and he testified as to details of the two sales. Petitioner took the stand in his own defense. He admitted knowing the undercover police officer but denied a sale on January 4, 1966. He admitted making a sale of contents of a glassine bag to the officer on January 6 but claimed it was baking powder and part of a scheme to defraud the purchaser. The trial judge instructed the jury that the statements attributed to petitioner by the prosecution could be considered only in passing on petitioner’s credibility and not as evidence of guilt. The jury then found petitioner guilty. The transcript of the interrogation used in the impeachment, but not given to the jury, shows that no warning of a right to appointed counsel was given before questions were put to petitioner when he was taken into custody.