Brady v. Maryland

Brady v. Maryland (1963) is a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that established the requirement for prosecutors to disclose exculpatory evidence—information that could potentially prove a defendant's innocence—to the defense. In this case, John Brady was convicted of murder, but the prosecution withheld evidence that could have helped his case. The Court ruled that suppressing such evidence violates the defendant's right to a fair trial, reinforcing the principle that justice requires transparency and fairness in the legal process. This decision heightened the responsibility of prosecutors to ensure that all pertinent information is shared with both the defense and the court.