Opinion ID: 1201769
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Failure to Grant Immunity to Defense Witness Mitchell

Text: The defense had James Mitchell, a state prison inmate, brought to court to testify in defendant's trial. At defense counsel's suggestion, the court appointed an attorney to advise Mitchell. After conferring with counsel, Mitchell decided not to testify and, instead, to exercise his privilege against self-incrimination, unless he received immunity. Mitchell's counsel conveyed this decision to the prosecutor. At a hearing held outside the jury's presence, the prosecutor announced that he would not request immunity for Mitchell, noting that he did not even know the subject of Mitchell's proposed testimony. Defense counsel offered to provide this information, but the prosecutor said it would make no difference to his decision. The trial court stated that it could not compel the prosecutor to request immunity. Defense counsel then said there was no point in calling Mitchell to the stand, even out of the jury's presence, when it was apparent that he would refuse to testify. The defense did not ask the court to grant immunity, nor did the defense make an offer of proof as to the testimony Mitchell would have given had he received immunity. Based on these facts, defendant contends: (1) the prosecutor improperly failed to request immunity for Mitchell; (2) the trial court erred in failing to grant Mitchell judicial immunity; (3) the trial court erred in failing to require that Mitchell assert under oath the privilege against self-incrimination; and (4) defense counsel's failure to call Mitchell to the stand constituted ineffective assistance of counsel. As we have previously explained, no court in this state has ever decided that granting a defense witness immunity from prosecution for his or her testimony was essential to vindicate a criminal defendant's rights to compulsory process and a fair trial. ( People v. Hunter, supra, 49 Cal.3d 957, 974.) This court has explained that if immunity for a defense witness is ever constitutionally compelled, it is so compelled only when the witness's testimony is both clearly exculpatory and essential to an effective defense, and when no strong governmental interest weighs against the grant of immunity. ( Ibid. ) Because the defense made no offer of proof as to Mitchell's testimony, the record before us on this appeal provides no basis for determining that his testimony was either clearly exculpatory or essential to an effective defense. Therefore, defendant has not shown that failure to grant Mitchell immunity resulted in the denial of defendant's rights to compulsory process and a fair trial. (19) Also unavailing are defendant's related contentions, that the trial court on its own initiative should have compelled Mitchell to assert under oath his privilege against self-incrimination, and that defense counsel's failure to call Mitchell to the stand constituted ineffective assistance. After talking with both Mitchell and his counsel, defense counsel announced on the record that he saw no reason to even call him to the stand. Because Mitchell was a defense witness, this decision was properly for defense counsel, not the trial court. The record provides no basis for concluding that defense counsel's decision not to require Mitchell to assert the privilege under oath was one that would not have been made by a reasonably competent attorney acting as a diligent advocate, or that it is reasonably probable a more favorable determination would have resulted had counsel acted differently. ( People v. Fosselman, supra, 33 Cal.3d 572, 584; Strickland v. Washington, supra, 466 U.S. 668, 687-696 [80 L.Ed.2d 674, 693-699].)