Opinion ID: 2037407
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: whether the trial court abused its discretion by denying mitchell's motion to dismiss the information because the trial judge was named as a witness on the part ii information.

Text: Mitchell argues that the informations should have been dismissed because the trial judge was named as a witness on the Part II Information. When State filed the Part II Information, it listed David Gilbertson as one of the witnesses because he was the state's attorney for Roberts County at the time Mitchell's probation was revoked on a previous criminal violation. Gilbertson was later appointed as circuit judge for the Fifth Circuit and presided at this trial. Mitchell filed a motion to strike for improper witness. The trial court ordered that his name be struck from the Information; however, it did not dismiss the Informations. Mitchell contends that the trial judge's name on the witness list created an appearance of impropriety and warrants a new trial. We find this argument has no merit. State assured the trial court that it had no intention of calling him as a witness. Furthermore, SDCL 19-14-5 prohibits a judge presiding at a trial from testifying as a witness. Prior to sentencing, State dismissed the Part II Information due to its failure to properly arraign him. Certainly, the trial court acted properly by striking its name from the Information; there was no prejudice to Mitchell and no abuse of discretion. Michalek, supra ; Farley, supra .