Opinion ID: 2120717
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Exception to Duty to Disclose for Rebuttal and Impeachment Witnesses

Text: ¶ 115. A prosecutor may not have to disclose some information to the defendant even when the prosecutor intends to use it at trial. Wisconsin Stat. § 971.23(1)(d) requires the prosecutor to disclose [a] list of all witnesses and their addresses whom the district attorney intends to call at the trial. This list of witnesses is linked to paragraph (e), which requires the prosecutor to disclose [a]ny relevant written or recorded statements of a witness named on a list under par. (d). Wis. Stat. § 971.23(1)(e). ¶ 116. What is vital to remember is that paragraph (d) also provides: This paragraph does not apply to rebuttal witnesses or those called for impeachment only (emphasis added). The existence of this exception in paragraph (d) legitimizes the use of rebuttal witnesses who may surprise the defendant. [19] This was shown in Lunde v. State, 85 Wis. 2d 80, 270 N.W.2d 180 (1978). Lunde was charged with delivering a controlled substance to a special agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The agent was introduced to Lunde by James Anderson, an undercover informer. At trial, Lunde took the stand and denied the charges in their entirety. He denied that he had ever seen the DEA agent, denied knowing Anderson, and denied knowing anything about the angel dust he had sold to the agent. The court described the situation: Over objection, James Anderson, the informer, was called as a rebuttal witness. Defense counsel's objection was based on the fact that the state had previously notified the defense that it would call three witnesses but had not mentioned Anderson as a possible witness. The prosecutor stated that he had not intended to call Anderson, he did not know where Anderson was until after the trial commenced, and it was only after the defendant elected to take the stand and denied knowing Anderson that the decision was reached to call Anderson in rebuttal. Id. at 84-85 (emphasis added). [20] The court concluded that the state had no duty to provide the names of bona fide rebuttal witnesses regardless of any demand of the defendant. Id. at 91 (citing Hough v. State, 70 Wis. 2d 807, 816, 235 N.W.2d 534 (1975), and Caccitolo v. State, 69 Wis. 2d 102, 115, 230 N.W.2d 139 (1975)). The court noted that Anderson's testimony was only necessary and appropriate when the defendant took the stand and denied that he knew Anderson and attempted to create a doubt as to his own whereabouts. Id. at 92. ¶ 117. The rebuttal/impeachment exception has implications for this case. Prioletta was not listed as a prosecution witness. The district attorney did not intend to call him at trial. Consequently, his statement, even if it had been written or recorded, which it was not, need not have been disclosed under paragraph (e). It would have had to be disclosed only if disclosure were required under some other paragraph. ¶ 118. The majority's opinion has an unexpected and unfortunate consequence with regard to witnesses called in rebuttal. Rebuttal witnesses serve the purpose of keeping a person's testimony honest. This includes the defendant in a criminal case who takes the witness stand voluntarily. Under the majority opinion, however, some rebuttal or impeachment evidence against a defendant will be suppressed; and, in that situation, the defendant may be able to testify without fear of contradiction and with virtual immunity from prosecution for perjury. See State v. Canon, 2001 WI 11, 241 Wis. 2d 164, 622 N.W.2d 270. [21]