Opinion ID: 1840075
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Was Richards denied his right to present a defense?

Text: Richards' third contention of error relates to the trial court's striking of several prospective defense witnesses. At the close of the state's evidence, the trial court requested that the defense be prepared to proceed. The defense, however, asked for a continuance, citing incomplete preparation. Noting that the defense had approximately two years to prepare, the trial court denied the request, characterizing Richards' actions as manipulative. The defect in the defense's preparation appeared to be its witness list, which while containing only twelve names, also contained categories of potential witnesses, numbering 100 or more additional persons. Richards complained that he and his staff had not had sufficient opportunity to interview all prospective witnesses and had not decided yet who among these many he would call. For its part, the state objected that many witnesses were irrelevant to the proceedings. Accordingly, the court indicated it would conduct a hearing to review each witness' relevance and necessity. The court followed the procedure adopted in the Stratton trial and approved of by this court: Richards presented an offer of proof regarding each witness, the prosecution made objections, if it wished, and the trial court ruled on whether the witness was competent, whether the evidence was relevant, and whether the testimony might be repetitive. See Richards III, 495 N.W.2d 187, 195-96 (Minn.1992). Over the course of several days, the trial court reviewed Richards' list witness by witness. Richards had the opportunity to present offers of proof for approximately 100 witnesses. For many witnesses, Richards was unable to produce a coherent summation as to what they might say on the stand or as to what, if any, relevance they had to the case. Examples of the latter category included the Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, a Hennepin County District Court Judge who had been the chief prosecutor in the Stratton trial, and the Hennepin County Attorney. The court allowed approximately 20 witnesses and the parties reached stipulations obviating the need for testimony in approximately 5 instances. The remainder were struck as collateral, repetitive, or irrelevant. At trial, Richards actually called 15 witnesses. Richards contests the striking of 11 of the prospective witnesses. Criminal defendants must be accorded a meaningful opportunity to present a complete defense, California v. Trombetta, 467 U.S. 479, 485, 104 S.Ct. 2528, 2532, 81 L.Ed.2d 413 (1984), including the right to offer the testimony of witnesses. Washington v. Texas, 388 U.S. 14, 19, 87 S.Ct. 1920, 1923, 18 L.Ed.2d 1019 (1967). Witnesses, however, must be relevant and must not be repetitive and the trial court, therefore, is justified in placing limitations on the number of witnesses. Richards III, 495 N.W.2d at 195; see also Minn.R.Evid. 401, 402, and 403 (defining relevant evidence and outlining conditions for exclusion of some evidence). It is important, we think, to note that here the trial judge followed a procedure we previously approved. Reviewing Richards' conviction for the Stratton murder, this court observed that while the right to present witnesses is constitutionally protected, the accused `must comply with established rules of procedure and evidence designed to assure both fairness and reliability in the ascertainment of guilt and innocence.' Richards III, 495 N.W.2d at 195 (quoting Chambers v. Mississippi, 410 U.S. 284, 302, 93 S.Ct. 1038, 1049, 35 L.Ed.2d 297 (1973)). What we said in that case about the trial judge's procedure for dealing with Richards' extensive witness list holds equally true here. While it is true that a significant number of defense witnesses were stricken, the process employed by the court was neither arbitrary nor mechanical. The judge proceeded down the defense witness list in an orderly manner and asked for an offer of proof as to each person. Id. It is well within the discretion of the trial judge to regulate the presentation and direct examination of the defense witnesses. Id. (citing Batsell v. United States, 403 F.2d 395, 401 (8th Cir.1968)). The trial court was careful and followed an approved procedural model in dealing with Richards and his efforts to put forward a defense. The court did not abuse its discretion.