Court Opinion

ID: 9626503
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 08:14:46.616174+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:06:28.539891
License: Public Domain

Neill, J.
(concurring) — Allowing prosecutors unlimited inquiry as to specific acts of misconduct of the accused during cross-examination of character witnesses opens many opportunities for abuse. See Michelson v. United States, 335 U.S. 469, 93 L. Ed. 168, 69 S. Ct. 213 (1948); 3 Wigmore, Evidence § 988, 619-24 (1940); McCormick, Evidence § 158, 336-37 (1954). For this reason, this court has subjected the practice to limitations. Cross-examination of character witnesses may not be used for the primary purpose of discrediting the person on trial. State v. Bozovich, 145 Wash. 227, 259 P. 395 (1927); State v. Cyr, 40 Wn.2d 840, 246 P.2d 480 (1952); State v. Anderson, 46 Wn.2d 864, 285 P.2d 879 (1955). Defendant’s character witness on cross-examination may not be asked questions which have no basis in fact, nor questions carrying pejorative connotations which are so vague as to be meaningless. State v. Sexsmith, 186 Wash. 345, 57 P.2d 1249 (1936).
In State v. Cyr, supra at 846, we outlined defendant’s remedy if he believes the prosecutor’s questions have no basis in fact:
There is no rule requiring the state, on its own motion, to produce evidence in proof of the supposed misdeeds concerning which character witnesses are cross-examined. If the defendant in any case desires to question the accuracy of the facts implicit in this kind of cross-examination, he can either testify to the contrary or can ask the trial court to inquire into the matter in the absence of the jury. Needless to say, if the trial court should be thus persuaded that such questions asked on cross-examination were without foundation in fact, the appropriate remedy would be to declare a mistrial.
*522Defendant in this case did not choose to avail himself of this remedy, and I am not convinced the trial court abused its discretion in admitting this line of questioning. See State v. Anderson, supra. Therefore, I concur.