Opinion ID: 2069253
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: 648 Unsworn testimony.

Text: The defendant contends that not only was the testimony of Robin unsworn, but that the trial court at no time elicited a solemn promise from her that she would tell the truth. This court has previously held that it is not necessary to require a child to be formally sworn before testifying so long as the child solemnly promises to tell the truth. DeGroot v. Van Akkeren, supra, page 114; State ex rel. Shields v. Portman (1942), 242 Wis. 5, 6 N. W. 2d 713. Cf. sec. 906.03; 59 Wis. 2d Rp. 161, effective January 1, 1974, and comments following. The decision in the DeGroot Case has two prongs. The first prong is the question of whether the child understands the difference between the truth and a lie. The second prong relates to the question of whether, given such understanding by the witness, she feels an obligation to tell the truth. In the present case, the record discloses that the witness was extensively questioned, not only by the court but by the counsel for the state and counsel for the defendant, as to her ability to distinguish between telling a lie and telling the truth, and as to whether she would be punished if she told a lie. There was a sufficient basis in the record for the trial court to conclude that Robin could make the requisite differentiation. The trial court, at the close of the in-chambers voir dire, ruled that Robin would be permitted to testify without being sworn. Counsel for the defendant then reiterated his standing objection to the competency of the witness which had consistently been based on the alleged inability of the witness to receive and relate impressions relative to the facts about which she was to testify. He made no objection to the lack of an oath or solemn promise. Nor was her willingness or ability to tell the truth ever questioned. The trial court then informed the jury that Robin  was going to testify without being sworn. Counsel for the defendant made no objection. When the fact that Robin had lied in her former testimony about not seeing the defendant was made known, counsel for the defense questioned whether the trial court had correctly determined that she could distinguish between the truth and a lie, but again made no motion with regard to the failure of the trial court to obtain a promise from her to tell the truth. The trial court again undertook an extensive voir dire of Robin to determine the extent to which she understood the difference between the truth and a lie and her obligation to tell the truth. On the basis of this questioning, the trial court again ruled that Robin was competent in this regard. When Robin was recalled to the stand, the trial court specifically elicited her promise to testify truthfully. Based on a review of the record, we are of the opinion the trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding Robin competent with regard to her ability to differentiate between the truth and a lie and her obligation to tell the truth, nor did it abuse its discretion in permitting her to testify. Collier v. State, supra , DeGroot v. Van Akkeren, supra .