Does a defendant have the right to testify in their own defense?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Flores, F077192 (Cal. App. 2020):

"[I]t cannot be doubted that a defendant in a criminal case has the right to take the witness stand and to testify in his or her own defense." (Rock v. Arkansas (1987) 483 U.S. 44, 49 (Rock).) "In fact, the most important witness for the defense in many criminal cases is the defendant himself." (Id. at p. 52.) The right to testify in one's own

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