Opinion ID: 1906837
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The Three Prongs

Text: Under the Majority's interpretation, a trial judge is required, sua sponte, to satisfy the three-step requirements of State v. Faulkner, 314 Md. 630, 552 A.2d 896 (1989), before admitting evidence of other crimes. Defense counsel objected only to the admission of the protective order itself, which Petitioner concedes was admissible. The effect of the majority opinion is that absent any objection to the factual findings contained within the protective order, or articulated basis for exclusion, the trial court must nonetheless apply the three pronged test of Faulkner, an approach simply inconsistent with established Maryland law. The Majority reverses the judgment of the circuit court because the trial court failed to engage in the Faulkner analysis on the record. This result is unfair to trial judges and the public as well. A trial court is entitled to deference with respect to two of the three prongs of Faulkner. See id. at 635, 552 A.2d at 898 (noting that the determination of clear and convincing evidence is reviewed for whether the evidence was sufficient to support the trial judge's finding, and that the weighing of prejudice versus probative value implicates the trial court's discretion). There is absolutely no evidence in this record that the trial judge was not aware of the governing rule. The judge considered the evidence, and ruled correctly on defense counsel's objection. He was entitled to both a presumption that he knew the law and great deference on his ruling, neither of which was afforded him by the Majority.