Court Opinion

ID: 9545192
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 17:08:08.900871+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:14:17.437315
License: Public Domain

RAPER, Justice,
specially concurring.
I can freely agree that the cross-examination of the defendant with respect to his post-arrest silence reached a point of no return and there was prejudice to him that could not be rescued by application of the harmless error rule.1 I join in the opinion of the court but wish to comment on the problems posed by a defendant showing up on the day of the trial with an alibi, of which, for conspicuous reasons, he has elected to keep secret and not advise the prosecutor or those concerned with the administration of justice and court management.
In recognition of the position of unfairness in which the State is placed in order to protect and not dilute a sacred right of the accused to remain silent, the Supreme Court of the United States, with some amendment by Congress, has given its blessing to pretrial discovery by the prosecution of any proposed alibi by a defendant, through adoption of Rule 12.1, F.R.Cr.P., effective December 1, 1975.2 The major *848purpose of the notice-of-alibi rule was to prevent unfair surprise to the prosecution. 8 Moore’s Federal Practice — Criminal Rules, 2nd Ed. ¶ 12.1.02, pp. 12.1-6 to 12.1-7.
The Supreme Court of the United States in Williams v. State of Florida, 1970, 399 U.S. 78, 90 S.Ct. 1893, 26 L.Ed.2d 446, concluded, along with every other court that had considered the question, the privilege against self-incrimination is not violated by a requirement that the defendant give notice of an alibi defense and disclose his alibi witnesses. The court observed that given the ease with which an alibi can be fabricated, the interest of the State3 in protecting itself against an eleventh-hour defense is both obvious and legitimate. It noted that the adversary system of trial is “not yet a poker game in which players enjoy an absolute right always to conceal their cards until played.”
With a notice-of-alibi rule, the problem of this case would possibly never have arisen. As noted by Chief Justice Burger in his concurring opinion co Williams, a notice-of-alibi rule has added benefits. It will serve the function of disposing of cases without trial in appropriate circumstances. The prosecutor, upon learning of the alibi defense, investigates prospective witnesses. If reliable, he will reexamine his case and a dismissal may result. On the other hand, inquiry may reveal the alibi to be contrived and the witnesses subject to impeachment. In this situation, defense counsel may wish to reexamine his case and, if false testimony is proposed, seek to withdraw as counsel or try to persuade his client to plead guilty. Such a rule would assist in moving away from the “sporting contest” idea of criminal justice. I would add, as a further prediction, that there would be fewer alibi defenses attempted.
My ultimate purpose in this concurring opinion is to strongly recommend that this court adopt as a part of its criminal rules, the federal notice-of-alibi rule or something in a similar context and thus remove a long-standing unfairness from our system of criminal jurisprudence.

. When there is but a single reference at trial to the fact of defendant’s silence, the reference is neither repeated nor linked with defendant’s exculpatory story, and the exculpatory story is transparently frivolous and evidence of guilt is otherwise overwhelming, the reference to defendant’s silence constitutes harmless error. Chapman v. United States, 5 Cir. 1977, 547 F.2d 1240.

. Rule 12.1, F.R.Cr.P., provides:
“(a) Notice by defendant. Upon written demand of the attorney for the government stating the time, date, and place at which the *848alleged offense was committed, the defendant shall serve within ten days, or at such different time as the court may direct, upon the attorney for the government a written notice of his intention to offer a defense of alibi. Such notice by the defendant shall state the specific place or places at which the defendant claims to have been at the time of the alleged offense and the names and addresses of the witnesses upon whom he intends to rely to establish such alibi.
“(b) Disclosure of Information and Witness. Within ten days thereafter, but in no event less than ten days before trial, unless the court otherwise directs, the attorney for the government shall serve upon the defendant or his attorney a written notice stating the names and addresses of the witnesses upon whom the government intends to rely to establish the defendant’s presence at the scene of the alleged offense and any other witnesses to be relied on to rebut testimony of any of the defendant’s alibi witnesses.
“(c) Continuing duty to disclose. If prior to or during a trial, a party learns of an additional witness whose identity, if known, should have been included in the information furnished under subdivision (a) or (b), the party shall promptly notify the other party or his attorney of the existence and identity of such additional witness.
“(d) Failure to comply. Upon the failure of either party to comply with the requirements of this rule, the court may exclude the testimony of any undisclosed witness offered by such party as to the defendant’s absence from or presence at, the scene of the alleged offense. This rule shall not limit the right of the defendant to testify in his own behalf. “(e) Exceptions. For good cause shown, the court may grant an exception to any of the requirements of subdivisions (a) through (d) of this rule.
“(f) Inadmissibility of Withdrawn Alibi. Evidence of an intention to rely upon an alibi defense, later withdrawn, or of statements made in connection with such intention, is not admissible in any civil or criminal proceeding against the person who gave notice of the intention.”

. At least 15 states, besides Florida, have alibi notice requirements of one sort or another. Footnote II to Williams v. State of Florida, supra.