Court Opinion

ID: 9539048
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 07:45:52.671998+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:58:24.772707
License: Public Domain

STOWERS, Justice, specially concurring. I concur with the result reached by the majority in this case. In doing so, however, I question the validity of polygraph tests and their legitimate place in the trial of a lawsuit. As noted by the majority opinion, neither this Court or the Court of Appeals has ever determined the validity of these tests, and acknowledges that a great deal of debate continues regarding this issue. Without going into detail, it is apparent that the number of mechanical, mental, physical, and emotional variables, to say nothing of the involvement of the operator and his expertise creates situations fraught with uncertainty and inaccuracy. When we keep in mind that a trial is a search for the truth, I question whether the use of polygraph evidence has a valid place in furthering this process. As a result of this rule, this case also demonstrates that ex-parte considerations, which are not favored under the law, put the trial court in the precarious position of attempting to withhold information from a party in an attempt to create a confidential situation, which rarely succeeds, thus leading to this litigation, all the result of a rule that is questionable at best. In addition to the above and also of concern, there appears to be a potential conflict between NMSA 1978, Crim.P. Rule 28(a) (Cum.Supp.1984) which provides that polygraph examinations shall be disclosed “within 30 days after the date of arraignment or filing of a waiver of arraignment or not less than ten days before trial, whichever date occurs earlier * * *,” (emphasis added), and NMSA 1978, Evid. Rule 707(d) (Repl.Pamp.1983), which provides that “not less than ten days before trial or such other time as the court may direct * * *.” A further conflict exists in that Rule 28(a) requires a party to disclose only those polygraph test results which he intends to introduce in evidence; whereas Rule 707(d)(4) requires “a list of any prior polygraph examinations taken by the examinee in the matter under question * * *.” The majority has so aptly labeled the story of the polygraph in New Mexico “a twisted history.” I think it is time to reexamine the whole polygraph concept with a view to determining whether it is germane to the judicial process.