Opinion ID: 1986092
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Defense Counsel Testimony

Text: Caldwell argues that the trial judge deprived him of his right to confront a witness when he refused to permit defense counsel to testify to the alleged prior inconsistent statements of a witness. At trial, defense counsel presented a witness whom they obviously hoped would admit having taken Caldwell and another male individual to the victim's home the night of the murders. If true, this testimony would have lent credibility to Caldwell's claim that his acquaintance was there that night and shot one of the victims. When the witness took the stand, however, he denied all knowledge about the crime and denied ever telling defense counsel that he transported Caldwell and another male individual to the victim's home. Following his testimony, defense counsel moved to allow co-counsel to take the stand and impeach the witness' testimony. The Commonwealth objected based on the canon of ethics and the trial judge denied the motion. Defense counsel did not seek to introduce the proposed evidence by avowal. A trial court ruling excluding evidence must be preserved for appellate review by an avowal of the witness. KRE 103(a)(2); Commonwealth v. Ferrell, Ky., 17 S.W.3d 520 (2000). Otherwise, the reviewing court has no way of knowing exactly what testimony was excluded and whether the exclusion was prejudicial to the offering party. Ferrell, supra . Counsel's version of the evidence is not enough. A reviewing court must have the words of the witness. Partin v. Commonwealth, Ky., 918 S.W.2d 219, 223 (1996). It makes no difference here that defense counsel and the witness are one in the same. There was no testimony offered in court under oath. We must observe that in future cases the decision of the trial judge to permit or deny counsel the right to testify will be reviewed for an abuse of discretion. Cf. Zurich Ins. Co. v. Knotts, Ky., 52 S.W.3d 555 (2001). Further, we agree with the rationale of State v. Caldwell, 117 Ariz. 464, 573 P.2d 864 (1977), that when defense counsel seeks to testify in order to impeach a witness, the burden is upon him to propose the solution of his withdrawing from the case. The trial judge is not obligated to offer that solution. In most circumstances where the testimony relates to a contested issue and defense counsel does not withdraw from the case, there will be no finding of an abuse of discretion when the trial judge does not permit him to testify.