The World of 1898: The Spanish-American War (Hispanic Division, Library of Congress)

Balzac v. Porto Rico

Balzac v. Porto Rico was a court case which originated when Jesús M. Balzac was prosecuted for criminal libel in a district court of Puerto Rico. Balzac declared that his rights had been violated under the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as he was denied a trial by jury, since the code of criminal procedure of Puerto Rico did not grant a jury trial in misdemeanor cases. In the appeal, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the judgments of the lower courts on the island in deciding that the provisions of the Constitution did not apply to a territory that belonged to the United States but was not incorporated into the Union.

Back to top


World of 1898 Home | Introduction | Chronology | Index | Bibliography | Literature | Maps | American Memory

Library of Congress Library of Congress
Comments: Ask a Librarian ( June 22, 2011 )
Legal | External Link Disclaimer