Court Opinion

ID: 9718482
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 07:25:18.144528+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:59.591433
License: Public Domain

Bashara, J.
(dissenting). I must respectfully dissent.
The majority finds no error in the cross-examination of defendant and, apparently, would not reverse solely on the single question addressed by the prosecution to defendant’s son. Reversal is based on the cross-examination of defendant’s character witness, Reverend Riggs. My evaluation of that testimony differs from the characterization ascribed to it by the majority.
Stringent proscriptions have been placed upon inquiry into the religious beliefs, practices, and opinions of witnesses. People v Hall, 391 Mich 175; 215 NW2d 166 (1974), People v Bouchee, 400 Mich 253; 253 NW2d 626 (1977). However, the entire theory of the defense in this case was founded upon a particular aspect of defendant’s religious practice, his abstinence from the consumption of alcohol. Defendant’s contention was that his long abstinence resulted in a markedly accentuated deleterious effect from its consumption on the night of the crime, negating any possibility that he formed the requisite criminal intent.
The direct examination of Rev. Riggs encompassed testimony regarding the organization of the church, the qualifications that defendant had to exhibit as an ordained minister, required church attendance, the practice of total abstinence from alcohol, defendant’s adherence to that practice, and defendant’s reputation for truthfulness. The latter three aspects were focused upon by the prosecutor in his cross-examination. I believe that *520examination was properly conducted in accordance with the authority quoted by the majority. Its scope was confined only to the nature of the testimony elicited on direct examination, People v Bouchee, supra, and elicited evidence "tending to disprove the claim of religious, moral and God-fearing qualities”. People v Bouchee, 400 Mich at 262.
In the final analysis, Rev. Riggs’ direct examination testimony was designed to show the defendant’s reputation for truthfulness and his adherence to the practice of abstinence from alcohol. The cross-examination directed attention on that testimony to show its inconsistency with the defendant’s own trial testimony, and thereby give the jury a basis for evaluating the defendant’s reputation testimony theory of defense. To reverse on the basis of such a record would be tantamount to an absolute proscription on cross-examination where the subject matter in the direct examination testimony of a witness specifies certain religious practices and beliefs that form the primary basis of the defendant’s theory of defense.
I would affirm the conviction.