Legal Definitions - Jackson–Denno hearing

Definition: A Jackson–Denno hearing is a court proceeding that takes place outside the presence of the jury. The purpose of this hearing is to determine whether the defendant's confession was voluntary and can be used as evidence in the trial. The hearing is named after the landmark case of Jackson v. Denno, which established the right to such a hearing.

Example: Suppose a suspect is arrested for a crime and confesses to the police during interrogation. The defense attorney may argue that the confession was coerced or obtained through improper means. In such a case, the judge may hold a Jackson–Denno hearing to evaluate the circumstances under which the confession was made. The judge will consider factors such as whether the suspect was informed of their rights, whether they were threatened or promised leniency, and whether they were under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Explanation: The example illustrates how a Jackson–Denno hearing is used to determine the admissibility of a confession. The hearing allows the judge to assess the voluntariness of the confession and decide whether it can be presented as evidence in the trial. This is important because a coerced or involuntary confession may be unreliable and unfair to the defendant.