 Washington v. Texas , 388 U.S. 14 ( 1967 ) , is a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court decided that the Compulsory Process Clause of the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution ( guaranteeing the right of a criminal defendant to force the attendance of witnesses for their side ) is applicable in state courts as well as federal courts . Jackie Washington had attempted to call his co @-@ defendant as a witness , but was blocked by Texas courts because state law prevented co @-@ defendants from testifying for each other , under the theory that they would be likely to lie for each other on the stand . 
