Court Opinion

ID: 9656358
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 19:47:08.163967+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:13:32.058144
License: Public Domain

STEINMETZ, J.
(concurring). I concur with the opinion of Justice William G. Callow in his statement of the proper test to be applied by a trial judge when determining whether the identity of an informant will be disclosed upon demand of the defendant.
I would add that in determining whether the testimony of an informant is necessary, the judge should determine whether that testimony and resulting evidence would be merely cumulative in regard to other evidence available or already produced. If it is merely cumulative, then it is not necessary for a fair determination of guilt or innocence. In addition, whether evidence from an informant is necessary, may be determined by whether the same information or evidence is available from another source or other sources.
I am authorized to state that Justices Roland B. Day, William G. Callow and Louis J. Ceci join in this concurring opinion.