§ 3481. Competency of accused

Statutory text

In trial of all persons charged with the commission of offenses against the United States and in all proceedings in courts martial and courts of inquiry in any State, District, Possession or Territory, the person charged shall, at his own request, be a competent witness. His failure to make such request shall not create any presumption against him.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

1948
Pub. L. 80–645 · 62 Stat. 683
Enacted · 18 U.S.C. § 3481
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 833.)
Source evidence
Code source credit
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 833.)

0 of 1 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 partial

Notes

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on section 632 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Judicial Code and Judiciary, and section 1200, Art. 42(a), of Title 34, Navy. (Mar. 16, 1878, ch. 37, 20 Stat. 30).

Section was rewritten without change of substance.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title of 1997 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–6, § 1, Mar. 19, 1997, 111 Stat. 12, provided that: “This Act [enacting section 3510 of this title, amending section 3593 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 3510 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Victim Rights Clarification Act of 1997’.”

Credits

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 833.)