Opinion ID: 1313493
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Susceptibility to Coercion

Text: The trial court ruled that respondent has a right to present evidence concerning his susceptibility to coercion. In reaching this decision, the trial court relied upon a decision by the court of appeals in Bixler v. State, 568 N.W.2d 880 (Minn.App.1997). Bixler involved an appeal of a trial court's ruling that prohibited expert testimony regarding the credibility of a confession given by a mentally impaired defendant. In Bixler, the court of appeals reversed the trial court and granted a new trial, ruling that the defendant be permitted to present a defense and challenge the confession by presenting expert testimony of his susceptibility to coercion. See Bixler, 568 N.W.2d at 885. We then reversed the court of appeals, holding that the trial court was within its discretion in excluding the evidence. See Bixler v. State, 582 N.W.2d 252 (Minn.1998). Because the trial court in this matter relied upon the court of appeals' decision in Bixler as the basis for its ruling, we remand the issue of respondent's susceptibility to coercion to the trial court for reconsideration in light of our decision in Bixler. [3]