Court Opinion

ID: 9479367
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 07:15:54.860744+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:46:58.916408
License: Public Domain

WILL, Senior District Judge,
concurring.
I agree that Anderson’s conviction must be reversed because defense counsel should have been permitted under the facts and circumstances here to cross-examine Barnes without having to make a preliminary showing of bias or duress. I write separately only because I believe that the trial judge has a responsibility once apprised of such facts and circumstances to be satisfied that the full extent of any possible bias or duress has been explored before exercising discretion as to the scope of any cross-examination. A preliminary voir dire by defense counsel of not only the witness but others having knowledge of the events, with judicial participation if necessary, to bring out all the facts is an essential predicate to the determination of the appropriate scope of cross-examination before the jury.