Bruton v. US case brief

1. Bruton v. US (US 1968) (p.190)
2. 
   
1. E and B on trial for robbing a postal facility; E had made a statement, “B and I did it” – an admission which govt can use to prove E’s guilt; judge decided to admit statement with limiting instruction that it wasn’t to be considered as to B’s guilt
• B’s arg: limiting instruction isn’t enough – can’t trust jury in this situation
2. holding: confrontation clause is offended by this evidence, should have been excluded
3. other alternatives available to govt
• redact statement, to get rid of all reference to B’s involvement
• give up using the statement altogether
• have two separate trials, one for B and one for E
• have one trial with two juries (more efficient) – Δ-specific evidence will be heard by jury for that particular Δ.