Court Opinion

ID: 9541369
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:24:50.501966+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:02:47.640096
License: Public Domain

ROVIRA, Justice,
specially concurring:
I specially concur in the judgment. However, I reach the conclusion that the People are precluded from using the videotape on somewhat different, and I believe more fundamental, grounds. The Oklahoma City Police Department promised Fisher that the videotape would not be used in any criminal proceeding. Fisher then relied on the promise and granted an interview. This is sufficient in my view to warrant suppression of the tape.
Essentially what happened here is that the defendant was given “use-derivative use” immunity by the Oklahoma City Police. See Kastigar v. United States, 406 U.S. 441, 92 S.Ct. 1653, 32 L.Ed.2d 212 (1972). The rule is well settled that a grant of immunity by the federal government is binding on the states, and vice versa. People v. Casselman, 196 Colo. 304, 583 P.2d 933 (1978); Murphy v. Waterfront Commission, 378 U.S. 52, 84 S.Ct. 1594, 12 L.Ed.2d 678 (1964). The justification for this rule is that a grant of immunity can be valid only if it is coextensive with the scope of the privilege against self-incrimination. The rule thus applies with equal force to the respect that must be afforded one state’s grant of immunity by another. See People v. Lucero, 196 Colo. 276, 584 P.2d 1208 (1978).
Although generally grants of immunity must be strictly in accordance with the applicable immunity statute, where a state official promises that certain information if given will not be used in court, the defendant is entitled under principles of equity and due process to enforcement of the promise, at least to the extent of his detrimental reliance. See Hammers v. State, 261 Ark. 585, 550 S.W.2d 432 (1977); Rowe v. Griffin, 676 F.2d 524 (11th Cir.1982).
Contrary to the suggestion of the People, this rule does not unduly impair law-enforcement efforts. In this case the defendant’s statement aided the law-enforcement efforts of Oklahoma, while leaving the State of Colorado “in substantially the same position as if the witness had claimed his privilege in the absence of a state grant of immunity.” Murphy v. Waterfront Commission, 378 U.S. at 79, 84 S.Ct. at 1610.
I am authorized to say that Chief Justice HODGES joins in this special concurrence.