Court Opinion

ID: 9744012
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 21:52:12.593608+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:46.217893
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE MILLER, specially concurring: I concur in the majority’s decision barring the admission into evidence of hypnotically induced testimony of a previously hypnotized witness other than the defendant. The problems of hypnosis are well documented, and it is clear that the procedure has not attained that degree of acceptance in the scientific community that would warrant the introduction of hypnotically induced testimony in judicial proceedings. For those reasons, exclusion of such testimony from evidence is necessary. I also agree with the majority’s holding that the erroneous admission of the testimony requires that the defendant in this case be granted a new trial. It should be noted that today’s decision does not affect our earlier holding in People v. Wilson (1987), 116 Ill. 2d 29, permitting a previously hypnotized witness to testify to his prehypnotic recollection. Hypnosis is often used for therapeutic or investigatory purposes, and the exclusion of a witness’ testimony regarding his prehypnotic recollection would “exact an unnecessary toll.” (Wilson, 116 Ill. 2d at 48.) As the majority opinion recognizes (131 Ill. 2d at 297), Detective Atkins should be allowed on retrial to testify to matters that he was able to recall before undergoing hypnosis, once the State satisfactorily establishes the extent of the officer’s prehypnotic recollection. (Wilson, 116 Ill. 2d at 48-49.) But because the demeanor of a previously hypnotized witness can be subtly influenced by his having submitted to that process, even when his later testimony is limited to prehypnotic recollection, the defendant should be permitted to offer expert testimony concerning those effects. Wilson, 116 Ill. 2d at 49.