Opinion ID: 3066024
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Waiver of Right to Confrontation

Text: “[T]he accused may waive his right to . . . confrontation and . . . the waiver of this right may be accomplished by the accused’s counsel as a matter of trial tactics or strategy.” Wilson v. Gray, 345 F.2d 282, 286 (9th Cir. 1965). At trial, Preston and his attorney agreed to admit TD’s recorded statement in lieu of having TD testify in person, and he argues that this stipulation violated his right to confrontation. It is clear that the trial counsel’s stipulation was a matter of trial strategy. Preston’s attorney opted to admit the recorded UNITED STATES V . PRESTON 21 statements because he was content with the information contained therein and concerned that “children on the stand . . . can say anything and go in any direction.” The district court did not plainly err by accepting this waiver and admitting TD’s recorded statements. See Hagege, 437 F.3d at 956.