Opinion ID: 2385862
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Exclusion of Evidence of Henry Routhier's Refusal to Take a Polygraph Test

Text: Before the state called Henry Routhier as a witness, defense counsel announced his intention to cross-examine Routhier about his refusal to submit to a polygraph test. The justice ruled in limine that such evidence was inadmissible because the jury would tend to exaggerate its probative value with respect to Routhier's credibility. Furthermore, the justice was concerned that prejudicial media coverage of Routhier's refusal to take the test might reach the unsequestered jury. Citing certain language in State v. Mottram, 158 Me. 325, 184 A.2d 225 (1962), Hilton argues that the trial justice was required to allow a voir dire of Henry Routhier to determine his reasons for declining to take the polygraph test. If Routhier refused because he believed the test was an accurate measure of truthfulness, Hilton contends, defense counsel could then have used Routhier's refusal to submit as a means to impeach his credibility. The defendant's argument misses the point of the justice's ruling. Having heard Hilton's reasons for requesting the voir dire, the justice ruled that, regardless of Routhier's reason for declining to take the polygraph test, evidence of the refusal would be excluded because of its serious tendency to mislead the jury. The correctness of the trial justice's ruling is underscored by a long line of decisions by this Court holding in various contexts that neither the result of a polygraph test nor the fact that a witness refused or was willing to submit to such examination is admissible on the issue of credibility. See, e. g., State v. Edwards, Me., 412 A.2d 983 (1980); State v. McDonough, Me., 350 A.2d 556 (1976); State v. Gagne, Me., 343 A.2d 186 (1975); State v. Bowden, Me., 342 A.2d 281 (1975); State v. Mower, Me., 314 A.2d 840 (1974). Cf. State v. Williams, Me., 388 A.2d 500 (1978) (voice print). At one time this Court suggested in dictum that where a witness refuses to take a polygraph test because he believes it is a reliable indicator of truthfulness, evidence of his refusal to take the test is admissible to show his consciousness of guilt. State v. Mottram, 158 Me. 325, 333, 184 A.2d 225, 230 (1962). No authority was cited for that proposition, and this Court has never employed the dictum in deciding a case. No jurisdiction has adopted a similar principle, and one state court has specifically rejected the dictum. State v. Faught, 546 S.W.2d 515, 518-19 (Mo.App.1977). If followed, the dictum would promote excessive consumption of time in exploring the collateral issue of the witness's reasons for refusing to submit to a polygraph test. More importantly, in assessing the witness's credibility the jurors would tend to place undue emphasis on what they believe were the witness's motives for declining the test. Because this Court has never elevated the statements in Mottram above the level of dictum, and because that dictum represents an unnecessary and troubling exception to an otherwise clear prophylactic rule against admission of evidence of a witness's willingness or refusal to take a polygraph test, we disavow the dictum. Evidence of the results of a polygraph test or of a witness's willingness or refusal to take such a test is inadmissible to show a witness's credibility, regardless of the witness's reasons for submitting to or declining the test.