Opinion ID: 1674080
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: The Prayer for Oyer

Text: By a prayer for oyer defendants asked for a pretrial inspection of all oral confessions allegedly made by them, together with copies of statements, oral or written, made by anyone who would appear as a witness for the State. Production of the written confessions was required by the court; but production of the other items was denied; and bills were properly reserved and perfected. Louisiana has taken a strict attitude to ward this problem by denying pretrial discovery. Counsel are familiar with the decisions of this court; but, notwithstanding these adjudications, they urged us to declare the restrictive interpretation to which this court has adhered to be in derogation of the due process requirements of the Louisiana and Federal Constitutions. In Louisiana all evidence relating to a pending criminal trial which is in possession of the district attorney or the police is privileged. Such evidence is not subject to inspection by the accused unless and until it is introduced in evidence at the trial. La.R.S. 44:3; State v. Dickson, 248 La. 500, 180 So.2d 403 (1965); State v. Pailet, 246 La. 483, 165 So.2d 294 (1964). The written confession of the accused is the only evidence excepted from this rule. State v. Dorsey, 207 La. 928, 22 So.2d 273 (1945). At common law no right of inspection of documents before trial was granted the accused. If the common law rule on this point has been greatly relaxed in England as a result of pretrial procedure, as we understand it has, there does not seem to be a corresponding change in this country. In the United States only the written confession of the accused is subject to oyer and pretrial inspection, as in the Dorsey case. In contrast to the broad scope of discovery in civil litigation, both our state and federal criminal procedures provide for restrictive pretrial disclosure. 6 Wigmore on Evidence (3d ed. 1940) § 1859(g); Developments in the LawDiscovery, 74 Harv.L.Rev. 940 (1961); Louisell, Criminal Discovery: Dilemma Real or Apparent? 49 Cal.L.Rev. 56 (1961). The prayer for oyer was properly denied.