Opinion ID: 1635701
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Pretrial discovery motion.

Text: The defendant claims error because a defense motion to turn over prior to trial any and all written or phonographically recorded statements by any witness the state intended to call was denied. This motion was made pursuant to sec. 971.24 (1), Stats., which provides: 971.24 Statement of witnesses. (1) At the trial before a witness other than the defendant testifies, written or phonographically recorded statements of the witness, if any, shall be given to the other party in the absence of the jury. For cause, the court may order the production of such statements prior to trial. There is no claim that statements were not furnished to the defense prior to the testimony of the state's witnesses; there is no allegation of prejudice flowing from the denial of the motion and none could be shown. This statute, passed in 1969, codified pre-existing case law in an attempt to make it clear that prior statements must be turned over prior to the witness' testimony and not just prior to cross-examination. The right to a fishing expedition in the criminal-law field has not been recognized in Wisconsin . . . [citing] State ex rel. Byrne v. Circuit Court (1962), 16 Wis. 2d 197, 114 N. W. 2d 114. . . . [which] should be  distinguished from compulsory production of prior statements of a witness during the trial . . . . (Emphasis added.) Ramer v. State (1968), 40 Wis. 2d 79, 87, 161 N. W. 2d 209. It was not error to deny the motion for pretrial production of these statements.