Question

accused is the highest species of proof. out of thine own mouth will i judge thee, is the process which most men prefer to all others. . . . but this is far from being the light in which confessions ought to be regarded, by the tribunals for the prosecution of crimes. a judicial confession, made and persisted in understandingly and soberly before a competent judge, is indeed conclusive. but an extrajudicial and voluntary avowal of guilt is ever to be received with great caution, and is entirely open to contradiction or explanation. . . . it must be the voluntary act of the prisoner, unmoved by promises or threats; and great allowance is always made for the state of mind produced by the situation in which he is placed.
according to the excerpt, the author most likely opposes which of the following?
choose 1 answer:
a the use of plea bargaining
b the right to legal counsel
c the use of juries in trials
d the ability to summon witnesses

Explanation:

The excerpt emphasizes that extrajudicial confessions (like those in plea bargaining, which involves defendants admitting guilt outside a formal judicial confession context, often with incentives/threats) should be received with caution as they may not be truly voluntary. The other options (right to counsel, juries, summoning witnesses) aren't related to the author's focus on confession voluntariness. So the author likely opposes plea bargaining.

Answer:

A. The use of plea bargaining