Simpson v. California

Simpson v. California (2007) was a court case where the California Supreme Court ruled that the state cannot force criminal defendants to reveal their prior criminal record during preliminary hearings if doing so could violate their constitutional right against self-incrimination. The court emphasized that defendants retain the right to remain silent about their past crimes before trial, and forcing disclosure at this early stage could unfairly prejudice their case or infringe upon their Fifth Amendment protections. The decision clarifies that certain inquiries into a defendant’s background are limited before formal charges are officially brought.