Opinion ID: 665588
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Morton's First Trial Testimony

Text: 10 Morton argues that his waiver of his right not to testify was involuntary at his first trial because the trial court struck the testimony of defense witness Cynthia Tandy, thereby forcing Morton to testify to what she would have said. 3 We reject this contention. Before Ms. Tandy testified, the district court required defense counsel to give notice before any witness was going to incriminate herself or himself, so that the court could appoint counsel for that witness. Defense counsel called Ms. Tandy without prior notice to the court and elicited self-incriminating testimony. The district judge stopped the proceedings and appointed counsel for those defense witnesses who intended to incriminate themselves. After consulting with Ms. Tandy, her lawyer informed the court that she would be asserting her Fifth Amendment right not to testify pursuant to his advice. He also moved to strike her testimony. Because defense counsel failed to comply with the court's instructions, and the prosecution would have been unable to cross-examine a witness who now asserted her right to remain silent, the district court ordered Ms. Tandy's entire testimony stricken. This was not an abuse of discretion. See United States v. Seifert, 648 F.2d 557, 562 (9th Cir.1980).