Opinion ID: 2070715
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The disclosure of a polygraph examinationbasic legal principles.

Text: [I]t is well settled that the results of lie detector tests are inadmissible in this jurisdiction. Contee v. United States, 667 A.2d 103, 104 n. 4 (D.C.1995) (per curiam) (citing, inter alia, Frye v. United States, 54 App. D.C. 46, 47, 293 F. 1013, 1014 (1923)). There appears to be no District of Columbia precedent, however, on the question whether, and under what circumstances, a reference by a witness to the administration to him or her of a polygraph test requires the trial judge to declare a mistrial. Because the issue has been widely litigated in many other jurisdictions, see Michelle Migdal Gee, Annotation, Propriety and prejudicial effect of informing jury that witness in criminal prosecution has taken polygraph test, 15 A.L.R.4th 824 (1982 & Supp.1997), including Maryland, see, e.g., Hawkins, supra, 604 A.2d at 492-94; Guesfeird v. State, 300 Md. 653, 480 A.2d 800, 802-07 (1984); Lusby v. State, 217 Md. 191, 141 A.2d 893, 895 (1958), we look to the decisions of other courts for guidance. In Guesfeird, supra, the Maryland Court of Appeals surveyed the authorities and extracted from the case law certain basic principles. The court began by noting that [t]he results of a lie detector test, as well as the fact of taking such a test, are not admissible. 480 A.2d at 803 (citations omitted). The court recognized, however, that [a] reference to a lie detector test in a criminal trial is not ground for reversal if the result of the test, cannot be inferred from the circumstances or if the reference is not prejudicial to the defendant. Id. (citations omitted). [13] The court then explored a number of criteria for assessing prejudice: In determining whether evidence of a lie detector test was so prejudicial that it denied the defendant a fair trial, courts have looked at many factors. The factors that have been considered include: (1) whether the reference to a lie detector was repeated or whether it was a single, isolated statement; (2) whether the reference was solicited by counsel, or was an inadvertent and unresponsive statement; (3) whether the witness making the reference is the principal witness upon whom the entire prosecution depends; (4) whether credibility is a crucial issue; (5) whether a great deal of other evidence exists; and, (6) whether an inference as to the result of the test can be drawn. See, e.g., People v. Yatooma, 85 Mich.App. 236, 271 N.W.2d 184, 186-87 (1978) (factors listed); and cases discussed infra; see generally Annot., 15 A.L.R.4th 824 (1982). No single factor is determinative in any case. The factors themselves are not the test, but rather, they help to evaluate whether the defendant was prejudiced. Id. (numerals added).