Court Opinion

ID: 9752636
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 18:25:44.196117+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:44:40.484492
License: Public Domain

TERRY, Associate Judge,
concurring:
As I read what Judge Gallagher has written, he is not saying that the trial court has the power to grant immunity to a witness over the objection of the prosecution. Indeed, he could not, for the Supreme Court has made it absolutely clear that “[n]o court has authority to immunize a witness.” Pittsburg Co. v. Conboy, 459 U.S. 248, 261, 103 S.Ct. 608, 616, 74 L.Ed.2d 430 (1983). Unwavering case law in the District of Columbia is to the same effect. See, e.g., Taylor v. United States, 603 A.2d 451, 460 (D.C.) (citing cases), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 852, 113 S.Ct. 155, 121 L.Ed.2d 105 (1992); United States v. Lugg, 282 U.S.App. D.C. 85, 88, 892 F.2d 101, 104 (1989) (recognizing the “universal rule” that only the executive branch has the power to grant immunity and holding that the trial court “had no power” to do so). With that understanding, I join in the court’s opinion.