Court Opinion

ID: 9786969
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 00:06:50.355141+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:36:50.627434
License: Public Domain

*897A. JOHNSON, J.,
Specially concurs.
¶ 1 I concur in this opinion, but write specially to again address our rule limiting the admission of defense evidence intended to show that another person committed the crime charged. See Gore v. State, 2005 OK CR 14, 119 P.3d 1268, 1278-79 (A. Johnson, J., concurring in results).
¶ 2 Limitations upon the admission of proffered evidence of third-party guilt are necessary to assure a balanced and fair criminal trial. On the other hand, rules defining those limitations must be rationally related to their purpose — to keep out evidence that is without sound probative value and that serves only to confuse the issues before the jury.
¶ 3 To the extent the Oklahoma rule requires the defense to show an “overt act” on the part of an alleged third-party perpetrator before the evidence may be admitted, it is arbitrary. An arbitrary rule of exclusion creates the risk of denying a criminal defendant his right to a meaningful opportunity to present a complete defense.