Court Opinion

ID: 9717646
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 07:07:45.279973+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:54.485692
License: Public Domain

DeBRULER, Justice,
dissenting.
In State ex rel. Keller v. Criminal Court of Marion County, (1974) 262 Ind. 420, 317 N.E.2d 433, this Court stated:
“The object of a trial is the discovery of the truth. A trial judge has the responsibility to direct the trial in a manner which facilitates the ascertainment of that truth. The power to order discovery is ‘grounded in the inherent power of the trial court to guide and control the proceedings.’ Johns v. State (1968), 251 Ind. 172, 240 N.E.2d 60, 64. When a trial judge orders discovery, the party so ordered must do more than point out that the order is unusual or innovative. The State suggests that in respect to supplying relevant grand jury minutes of witnesses who are to testify at trial the expense would be so enormous as to make the ordering of these an abuse of the trial court’s discretion. Yet, there are no data offered in support of this claim. Of course, the judge may consider expense as one of the factors applicable to the exercise of his discretion. Nevertheless, criminal discovery is designed to improve the efficiency of the criminal justice system. The idea of a trial as a sport or game is not only a reflection on the judicial process, but it is wasteful of human intelligence and technique. The discovery order was within the discretionary power of the trial judge to guide and control the trial in the best interests of justice.” 262 Ind. at 423, 317 N.E.2d 433.
I regard the respondent in this case to be well within the confines of his jurisdiction in making the order complained of here. The form upon which the relator was to manifest his compliance with the order permitted only one line responses. Respondent stated at our hearing that it was clear to all that the summary of expected testimony was to be very brief, and I gleaned from his statement and the written form that he expected the one line summary to be connected with the elements of the offense or exhibit by reference to single key words such as: identity, value, confession, fingerprints, and the like. To me, to require counsel to reveal their knowledge of the essential elements of their claims and the evidence by which they propose to prove those elements, serves two important functions. First, the revelation demonstrates that counsel are adequately prepared for trial, and have evaluated their legal positions. The court thereby knows that counsel are ready for trial, and that a postponement of trial or mistrial will not likely occur because of lack of preparedness. Second, the revelation alerts the court to problems peculiar to the case which it may be called upon to face at trial, and permits it to prepare to meet those. There is nothing so beneficial to the interests of justice as lawyers and judges prepared to do their jobs.