Opinion ID: 1917909
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 38

Heading: Motion to Take Deposition to Perpetuate Testimony.

Text: (1) After an indictment or information upon which a defendant is to be tried is filed, the defendant or the State may apply for an order to perpetuate testimony. The application shall be verified or supported by the affidavits of credible persons that a prospective witness resides beyond the territorial jurisdiction of the court or may be unable to attend or be prevented from attending a trial or hearing, that his testimony is material and that it is necessary to take his deposition to prevent a failure of justice. The court shall order a commission to be issued to take the deposition of the witnesses to be used in the trial and that any designated books, papers, documents or tangible objects, not privileged, be produced at the same time and place. If the application is made within ten days before the trial date, the court may deny the application. (2) If the defendant or the State desires to perpetuate the testimony of a witness living in or out of the State whose testimony is material and necessary to the case, the same proceedings shall be followed as provided in the preceding subdivision, but the testimony of the witness may be taken before an official court reporter, transcribed by him and filed in the trial court. (3) If the deposition is taken on the application of the State, the defendant and his attorney shall be given reasonable notice of the time and place set for the deposition. The officer having custody of the defendant shall be notified of the time and place and shall produce the defendant at the examination and keep him in the presence of the witness during the examination. A defendant not in custody may be present at the examination, but his failure to appear after notice and tender of expenses shall constitute a waiver of the right to be present. The State shall pay to the defendant's attorney and to a defendant not in custody the expenses of travel and subsistence for attendance at the examination. The State shall make available to the defendant for his examination and use at the deposition any statement of the witness being deposed that is in the possession of the State and that the State would be required to make available to the defendant if the witness were testifying at trial. (4) The application and order to issue the commission may be made either in term time or in vacation. The commission shall be issued at a time to be fixed by the court. (5) Except as otherwise provided, the rules governing the taking and filing of oral depositions, the objections thereto, the issuing, execution and return of the commission and the opening of the depositions in civil actions shall apply in criminal cases. (6) No deposition shall be used or read in the evidence when the attendance of the witnesses can be procured. If it shall appear to the court that any person whose deposition has been taken has absented himself by procurement, inducement or threats of any person on behalf of the State or of the defendant or of any person on his behalf, the depositions shall not be read in evidence on behalf of the defendant. Committee Note : Subdivision (h) is amended to require the defendant to specify the factual basis behind the grounds for a motion to suppress evidence. Subdivision (1) is amended to permit the State to take depositions under the same conditions that the defendant can take them. Former sections (j) and (k) transferred to Rules 3.150, 3.151 and 3.152. Sections ( l ) and (m) renumbered (j) and (k) respectively. Otherwise, same as prior rule.