Opinion ID: 879229
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Evidentiary Rulings of the District Court

Text: Brodniak contends that the District Court's postponement of rulings of various evidentiary motions prejudiced his case. Specifically, Brodniak first contends that the District Court made arbitrary and inconsistent rulings with regard to the admission of the transcript of the tape recording that led to confusion and deprived Brodniak of a fair trial. Brodniak further contends that the District Court deprived him of a fair trial by postponing ruling on the admission of Dr. Walter's rape trauma testimony. The record, however, shows the evidentiary matters on which the District Court reserved its ruling, depended on their relevancy at the time of introduction and the adequacy of their foundation. The trial court judge has a wide latitude of discretion in conducting courtroom procedures, and in determining adequacy of foundation for admission of evidence. State v. Austad (1982), 197 Mont. 70, 94, 641 P.2d 1373, 1386; State v. LaMere (Mont.1980), 621 P.2d 462, 466, 37 St.Rep. 1936, 1941. There is no indication that the District Court did anything other than exercise its discretion in order to rule correctly on all evidentiary matters. The District Court acted correctly and Brodniak suffered no prejudice.