{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "cpl", "section": "60.15", "citation": "CPL § 60.15", "heading": "Rules of evidence; what witnesses may be called", "text": ["§ 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."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CPL/60.15", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "This section sets who may call witnesses in a criminal proceeding and protects a defendant's choice not to testify.\n\n- **(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 call and examine witnesses as of right**, and each may **cross-examine every witness** the other calls. ★\n- **(2)** The defendant **may testify on his own behalf**, but **no unfavorable inference may be drawn** from the defendant's failure to testify. ★", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/cpl/60.15", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}