CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE - CONSTITUTIONALITY OF A COMMENT UPON DEFENDANT'S FAILURE TO TESTIFY

For several years there has been agitation in legal and legislative circles to permit comment in a criminal action upon the failure of the defendant to testify. Both the American Bar Association and the American Law Institute have passed resolutions favoring such legislation. The chief objection to the proposal has been its alleged unconstitutionality. The purpose of this comment is to attempt to rebut such a contention and to show that the advocated change is both constitutional and eminently desirable.