Britt v. North Carolina
A plain-English summary from Criminal Defense Resources™, a free resource for pro per/pro se defendants and their families.
- Court
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Decided
- Citation
- 404 U.S. 226 (1971)
What did the court decide?
The Court named two factors for deciding whether a defendant who cannot pay needs a free transcript: (1) the value of the transcript for the appeal or trial, and (2) whether other options would do the same job. On the facts of this case, the Court found the transcript of an earlier mistrial was not needed, because other options were available.
Why does it matter?
This is the test courts use when someone who cannot afford it asks for a free transcript of an earlier proceeding, such as a mistrial before a retrial.
Where can I read the full opinion?
Read the full opinion on Cornell Law School LII →
Always read the full opinion and check whether later cases have limited or changed it. A summary can leave out important details.