Court Opinion

ID: 9726930
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 13:13:10.059849+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:31.911339
License: Public Domain

ZENOVICH, Acting P. J.
I concur with the lead opinion, but express one reservation in so doing. Although the discussion of alternatives is somewhat instructive, it is my opinion that trial judges—pressed as they are by the docket of never-ending cases—do not have to take extreme actions before making a finding of unavailability. Reasonable efforts, in this case, would have been satisfied by adjourning for the weekend in an attempt to allow Leon to get in touch with his attorney. No more should have been required. Nevertheless, given the present facts, I agree that the court below could have exercised an extra scintilla of patience with witness Leon before admitting his preliminary hearing testimony into evidence under the former testimony exception.