Court Opinion

ID: 9588384
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:33:50.156595+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:00:58.590172
License: Public Domain

BRETT, Judge
(specially concurring).
I concur in this opinion, but feel obligated to express my views on certain aspects not specifically stated in the opinion.
In the first instance, I believe the petitioner’s motion was prematurely filed; and under Oklahoma Procedures I question the authority of the magistrate to order the production of the requested items under discovery procedures at the preliminary examination. As has been stated many times, the preliminary examination is not a trial; but, the preliminary examination does provide certain discovery tactics for defense counsel, which result from the examination and cross examination of witnesses. I believe the motions for discovery should be filed in the trial court prior to the date set for trial. At the hearing on these motions, the trial court must allow certain items by statute; and with reference to discovery procedures, beyond the statutory authority the trial court has certain discretionary authority.
I also agree that the defendant is not entitled to inspect the “work product” of the prosecutor, unless such item, or items, tends to negate the guilt of the accused. Whether or not such negative action might result from the work product is to be determined by the prosecutor, who also has an obligation to voluntarily disclose that information to the accused. With reference to what comprises the prosecutor’s *1138work product, the ABA, Standards Relating To Discovery and Procedure Before Trial, October, 1970, in the commentary under § 2.6, p. 89, is the following:
“First, ‘work product’ has proved to be much too elastic to indicate by itself the nature of the matter which should generally be immune to disclosure.”
Thereafter, on page ninety-one, the commentary states further, in an effort to become more specific concerning the “Work Product”:
“The following would be protected: notes or outlines of trial strategy, of arguments to be made, of authorities to be cited, and of questions to be asked witnesses ; also memoranda between personnel in the office on legal questions, evidence, prospective jurors, or other, aspects of the case except medical, scientific, and experts’ reports . . . ;
records of an attorney’s travels with respect to a case; summaries and analyses of the case file, evaluations of anticipated witnesses or their testimony; evaluations of the probabilities of obtaining certain evidence; investigative sources and techniques.”
While the ABA Standards go further than our statutory authority allows, and more closely follow the Federal Procedures, which I agree do not control in this instance, they do provide some direction toward an ultimate solution. In the instant case, I believe petitioner should be entitled to “sworn statements” made by Georgia Whipple Jenkins, which may be in the prosecutor’s possession, which specifically pertain to the period of December 2 through 8, 1969, covered in the charge confronting the petitioner. When a proper application is filed with the trial court, granting of the application will be within the trial court’s discretion, unless otherwise authorized by statute. Likewise, it makes little difference whether the sworn statements were taken in Oklahoma, or in Arizona, so long as they concern the matters charged in the information. How that fact is to be determined is left to the trial court.
I concur.