Opinion ID: 1561244
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Misuse of Subpoena.

Text: On 8 May 1987, Alison was in the District Court of Maryland for Harford County for trial of the charges described in the immediately preceding incident. Alison saw that Thomas Barstow, a reporter for a local newspaper, was seated in the courtroom. Alison immediately had a subpoena issued and served upon Barstow, and at the commencement of his trial he requested the sequestration of all witnesses. Barstow was required to leave the courtroom and was not able to report on Alison's trial, as had been his expectation. Alison did not call Barstow as a witness. When asked to explain why he had caused a subpoena to be served on Barstow, Alison gave two reasons. First, he said he felt it might have been necessary to have someone familiar with the area of the arrest available to testify as to the location, and it simply did not turn out that the testimony was needed. Second, he said he intended to harass Barstow and to prevent him from reporting on the trial. Judge Hinkel found Alison had acted solely for the latter purpose.