Court Opinion

ID: 9762752
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 02:30:31.630621+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:37.221326
License: Public Domain

SAYLOR, Justice,
concurring.
I agree with Mr. Justice Zappala that prior decisions of this Court do not preclude the questioning of a witness about extensive drug or alcohol use during the period of time between the events at issue and the trial, where the purpose of such questioning is to demonstrate that such drug or alcohol use has impaired the witness’s ability to remember accurately the events at issue. Before such questioning is permitted, however, the party seeking to challenge a witness on such basis should be required to make an offer of proof that the witness has in fact engaged in chronic substance abuse. As defense counsel made no such offer concerning either of the two witnesses in question, I conclude that this issue does not entitle Appellant to relief.