New York statute
N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law § 60.15 — Rules of evidence; what witnesses may be called
Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
Part of Article 60: Rules of Evidence and Related Matters, New York Criminal Procedure Law.
Full text of N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law § 60.15
Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.
60.15 Rules of evidence; what witnesses may be called.
1. Unless otherwise expressly provided, in any criminal proceeding
involving a defendant in which evidence is or may be received, both the
people and the defendant may as a matter of right call and examine
witnesses, and each party may cross-examine every witness called by the
other party.
2. A defendant may testify in his own behalf, but his failure to do
so is not a factor from which any inference unfavorable to him may be
drawn.
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