Case Name: Mildred Jean CARMICHAEL, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1996-04-03
Citations: 670 So. 2d 1178
Docket Number: No. 95-2304
Parties: Mildred Jean CARMICHAEL, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
Judges: Before LEVY, GERSTEN, and FLETCHER, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 670
Pages: 1178–1179

Head Matter:
Mildred Jean CARMICHAEL, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
No. 95-2304.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.
April 3, 1996.
Samek & Besser and Lawrence E. Besser, for appellant.
Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General, and Wanda Raiford, Assistant Attorney General, for appellee.
Before LEVY, GERSTEN, and FLETCHER, JJ.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
The record reflects that the trial court committed reversible error in curtailing the defendant's cross-examination of the prosecution's chief witness as to her possible motive, bias, or self-interest. The law in Florida is clear that evidence tending to establish that a witness appearing before the State for any reason other than to tell the truth should not be kept from the jury. A trial court's refusal, in a criminal prosecution, to allow cross-examination of a witness concerning a pending civil action between that witness and the defendant is error. See Wooten v. State, 464 So.2d 640 (Fla. 3d DCA), review denied, 475 So.2d 696 (Fla.1985).
Reversed.