Michael A. Griffith

Michael A. Griffith was a young man whose tragic death in 1983 led to significant legal changes in New York State. He was fatally shot during a confrontation involving multiple individuals. His case resulted in the "Griffith Rule," a legal principle that prohibits the prosecution from introducing a defendant’s prior bad acts to prove their current guilt, unless those acts are directly relevant to the case. This rule aims to ensure fair trials by preventing prejudice based on unrelated past behavior. Griffith’s death and subsequent legal reforms highlight the importance of protecting defendants from unfair prejudicial evidence in criminal proceedings.