Court Opinion

ID: 9699826
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 20:53:14.026772+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:20:58.333737
License: Public Domain

O’HERN, J.,
dissenting.
I believe that Rule 3:13-2, which allows the videotaped deposition of a material witness to be used at trial in order to “prevent manifest injustice,” does not contemplate the partial use of such deposition testimony (live direct examination; taped cross-examination) except in the rarest of circumstances. To permit such splitting of the testimony of a key state witness in a relatively short criminal trial creates, rather than prevents, manifest injustice.
For affirmance—Chief Justice WILENTZ and Justices CLIFFORD, HANDLER, POLLOCK, GARIBALDI, and STEIN—6.
Dissenting—Justice O’HERN—1.