Opinion ID: 2206409
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: General Analytical Framework

Text: After Crawford, a testimonial statement of a witness who does not testify at trial is never admissible unless (1) the witness is unavailable to testify, and (2) the defendant had a prior opportunity for cross-examination. Crawford, 541 U.S. at 53-54, 124 S.Ct. at 1365, 158 L.Ed.2d at 194. Moreover, Davis made clear that the confrontation clause has no application to non testimonial statements. Davis, 547 U.S. at ___, 126 S.Ct. at 2273, 165 L.Ed.2d at 237 (It is the testimonial character of the statement that separates it from other hearsay that, while subject to traditional limitations upon hearsay evidence, is not subject to the Confrontation Clause  (emphasis added)); Davis, 547 U.S. at ___, 126 S.Ct. at 2274, 165 L.Ed.2d at 238 (noting that Crawford had suggested that the confrontation clause applies only to testimonial hearsay and stating that [a] limitation so clearly reflected in the text of the constitutional provision must fairly be said to mark out not merely its `core,' but its perimeter). Thus, the threshold question in confrontation clause analysis is, Are the statements at issue testimonial? If not, the confrontation clause places no restriction on their introduction (although they are still subject to traditional limitations upon hearsay evidence (see Davis, 547 U.S. at ___, 126 S.Ct. at 2273, 165 L.Ed.2d at 237)). If the statements are testimonial, the next question is, Will the declarant testify? If so, the confrontation clause again places no restriction on the introduction of the declarant's prior hearsay statements, as the defendant will have the opportunity to cross-examine-confront-the declarant. Crawford, 541 U.S. at 59 n. 9, 124 S.Ct. at 1369 n. 9, 158 L.Ed.2d at 197 n. 9. Finally, if the statements are testimonial and the declarant will not testify, then the statements are inadmissible unless both (a) the declarant is unavailable to testify, and (b) the defendant had a prior opportunity to cross-examine the declarant. Crawford, 541 U.S. at 53-54, 124 S.Ct. at 1365, 158 L.Ed.2d at 194.