New York Law (NYLE) Practice Exam

What is the purpose of a Huntley hearing?

1. To assess eligibility for witness testimony

2. To review how police obtained statements from the defendant

3. To establish the credibility of an identification procedure

4. To sanction law enforcement actions during arrest

The correct answer is: To review how police obtained statements from the defendant

A Huntley hearing is specifically conducted to review how law enforcement obtained statements from a defendant, particularly in regards to the defendant's rights against self-incrimination and the voluntariness of those statements. This hearing is named after the case *Huntley v. State of New York*, where the court determined that a defendant's statements to law enforcement could be suppressed if they were obtained in violation of constitutional protections. During a Huntley hearing, the judge evaluates whether the statements made by the defendant were obtained through coercion, whether they were made after waiving Miranda rights, and if they can be used as evidence in court. The context is crucial, as statements made without proper advisement of rights or under duress could render the evidence inadmissible. Other options relate to different judicial processes. Assessing eligibility for witness testimony pertains more to pre-trial or evidentiary hearings that's distinct from the focus on defendant statements. Establishing the credibility of an identification procedure involves different legal standards and is typically addressed in a separate type of hearing known as a Wade hearing. Lastly, sanctioning law enforcement actions during an arrest pertains to broader issues of police conduct and procedural justice, which are not the focus of a Huntley hearing. Therefore, the primary purpose