Opinion ID: 1762007
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Alleged motion.

Text: At the close of the cross-examination of one of the state's witnesses, the trial counsel stated he had a motion to make in the absence of the jury. A recess was taken. After recess the court asked if there was any further examination. Defense counsel said he had no further questions of the witness. On this state of the record the defendants contend a motion was made during the recess and because there was no transcript of it the due-process requirement that the defendants be allowed appellate review of all stages of the proceedings has been violated, citing Griffin v. Illinois (1956), 351 U. S. 12, 76 Sup. Ct. 585, 100 L. Ed. 891. Assuming the legal correctness of the defendants' argument, it rests on the assumption that a motion in fact was made and not transcribed. However, at the postconviction hearing the trial judge stated that no motion was made during the recess. The defendants object to this testimony on the ground the court was trier of the fact and became a material witness too. Since the matter involved the judge and his conduct at the trial, he may rely on his memory in making a finding of fact. It may be true that Tyler v. Swenson (8th Cir. 1970), 427 Fed. 2d 412, 415, is to the effect that a judge has no particular competence in the recollection of unrecorded events. But we think a trial judge has particular competency to recollect whether a motion was made before him in a trial. Besides, it is at least equally debatable an inference may be drawn that no motion was made because the record does not show it as it is that a motion was made because counsel said he wanted to make one and it was not transcribed.