Repository Collection 03

Smith v. Cain

565 U.S. 73 (2012)

CASE ENTRY

Last Revised • July 4, 2026

Smith v. Cain reaffirmed and strengthened the constitutional principles established in Brady v. Maryland. The United States Supreme Court held that evidence affecting the credibility of a key prosecution witness must be disclosed when there is a reasonable probability that the outcome of the trial would have been different had the evidence been provided to the defense.


Related SMAR Citation

“and its progeny; Smith v. Cain, 565 U.S. (2012);…”


Case Name

Smith v. Cain


Citation

565 U.S. 73 (2012)


Date

January 10, 2012


Verification Source

Official United States Supreme Court opinion located through Justia.


Source Location

United States Supreme Court Opinion


Highlighted Pages

73


Referenced in the Supplemental Motion

Page 6, Paragraph 6


Source Status

✔ Original United States Supreme Court opinion obtained and reviewed

✔ Relevant holding highlighted

✔ Publicly available source

✔ Included within the Source Verification Archive


Cited to Support

May's allegation that material impeachment and exculpatory evidence concerning key prosecution witnesses and the underlying investigation was withheld from the defense. May cites Smith v. Cain to support the principle that undisclosed evidence affecting the credibility of a critical prosecution witness may be material under Brady when there is a reasonable probability that disclosure would have affected the outcome of the trial. May relies upon this authority to support his claim that suppressed evidence bearing upon witness credibility, reliability, and truthfulness undermines confidence in the verdict rendered against the Defendant.


Supporting Documents

Original Article

Link to the original article.

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Highlighted Research Copy

Working research copy containing the highlighted passages cited in the Supplemental Motion.

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