Court Opinion

ID: 9670437
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 03:20:37.856261+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:04.485432
License: Public Domain

PEDERSON, Judge
(concurring specially)-
I concur in the results because, from the entire record, I can only conclude that the defendant was convicted by a fair, but not a perfect trial. [See State v. Iverson, 187 N.W.2d 1, 44 (N.D.1971).]
The majority opinion and the dissent overlook the basic rules applicable to the use of collateral matters to attack the credibility of a witness. Periodically the courts ought to re-examine the basic rules in order to keep from overextending. Much of the public dissatisfaction with the judicial system, especially in the field of criminal law, relates to this very matter.
The restrictions imposed on the use of collateral matters in the cross-examination of any witness, in both criminal and civil trials, to discredit a witness, are founded on the principle that the jury needs to be protected from being led into indefinitely multiplied issues to the extent that they lose sight of the real issue.
When the witness being cross-examined happens to be the defendant in a criminal trial, he is subject to the rules. His testimony can be discredited by impeachment. As the majority opinion says, “he may be cross-examined as to matters which tend to degrade him.” [State v. McCray, 99 N.W.2d 321, 325 (N.D.1959); State v. Moe, 151 N.W.2d 310 (N.D.1967); State v. Pfaffengut, 77 N.W.2d 521 (N.D.1956).]
Perhaps in this case the prosecutor thought that a “charge” or an “arrest” was the commission by the defendant of a degrading act — although I doubt that. Everyone assumes that a “conviction” is proof of the commission of a degrading act but I believe that the courts are wrong if they assume that only “convictions” can prove that a degrading act was committed.
The prosecutor was wrong if he tried to leave with the jury an impression that being accused of a crime is the same as being convicted of a crime. Juries are not that gullible.
Terry Johnson’s credibility was destroyed when he admitted to his conviction of a number of crimes. Any discussions about an arrest or charge, even if you assume that they reflect the doing of a degrading act, which did not result in a conviction, would be at worst cumulative, but more likely would tend to show that the crediblity of police officers and prosecutors is not assumed to be unassailable. It did not prejudice the jury against the defendant in this case. If we are to protect a defendant from being prejudiced on cross-examination, we must prevent him from being examined about collateral convictions. No court has gone that far. I am authorized to say that Justice Sand agrees with the views expressed herein.