Case ID: so3d_182/html/0964-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "WEIMER, J.,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

STATE of Louisiana v. Devin WATERHOUSE.
    No. 2015-KK-2301.
    Supreme Court of Louisiana.
    Jan. 15, 2016.
   On Writ of Certiorari to the Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit, Parish of Orleans.

I,Writ granted. The trial court’s judgment granting defendant’s motion to suppress photographic evidence is reversed, and defendant’s motion to suppress is hereby denied. According ample discretion to the trial court, under the circumstances of this case, it is apparent the-trial court misapplied the standard set’ forth -in La.Code Evid. art; 403. The evidence at issue is relevant, and its probatiye value is not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of, undue delay, or waste of time.

JOHNSON, C.J., would deny the writ.

HUGHES, J., would deny the writ.

WEIMER, J.,

dissenting.

|,I respectfully dissent and would deny the writ.

As this court previously explained, our review of a district ‘ court’s ruling on a motion to suppress should be deferential. “Trial courts are vested with great discretion when ruling on a motion to suppress. Consequently, the ruling of a trial judge on a motion to suppress will not be disturbed absent an abuse of that discretion.” State v. Leger, 2005-0011, p. 10 (La.7/10/06), 936 So.2d 108, 122.

Here, the district court found the probative value of a photograph is not merely outweighed, but is “far outweigh[ed],” by its effect of unfair prejudice. The district court further explained: “Since we already have pictures for identification purposes, it’s out.”

The photograph depicts, ‘ among other matters, the defendant utilizing the middle finger of one hand in an offensive gesture. The state does not dispute that the photograph at issue was taken years before the crime for which the, defendant is charged. The state does not dispute that other photographs, purportedly depicting the defendant, have thus far been found admissible.

The district .court applied the correct legal standard,. as La. C.E. art. 403 “requires a weighing and balancing of the probative value of the evidence against the | legitimate consideration's of judicial administration enumex-ated in that article.” State v. Mosby, 595 So.2d 1135, 1139 (La.1992) (internal quotations omitted). Additionally, this court previously recognized that “[ujltimately, questions, of relevancy and admissibility are discretion calls for the trial judge.” Id.

Because the district court applied the correct legal standard and because the record pi*ovides support for the district court’s ruling, I find no abuse of discretion. I agree with the appellate court, which unanimously denied writs, that the district court’s ruling does not merit an exercise of supervisory jurisdiction. This court should not be engaged in evaluating whether one of a number of photographs should or should not be admitted into evidence, nor should we attempt to rectify each and every perceived error.