Ex Parte State of Alabama. (in Re Devonte Cortes Acosta v. State of Alabama)

Summary

The Alabama Supreme Court reversed the Court of Criminal Appeals and remanded the case, holding that the trial court’s exclusion of Detective Fisher’s hearsay testimony did not violate Acosta’s constitutional right to present a defense because the testimony was not critical evidence. The Court also affirmed that Acosta properly preserved the issue for appellate review. Separate dissenting opinions argue that the exclusion did deprive Acosta of a complete defense under Chambers and Griffin.