Court Opinion

ID: 9655063
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 18:59:13.994275+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:13:15.522701
License: Public Domain

*308HENDERSON, Justice
(dissenting).
I distinguish State v. Fox, 313 N.W.2d 38 (S.D.1981) and State v. Coe, 286 N.W.2d 340 (S.D.1979), as defense counsel made no motion for a continuance therein. Here, defense counsel promptly moved for a continuance when he became aware of the informer’s identity, his whereabouts, and that he would testify. The motion for continuance was renewed continually by defense counsel throughout the trial.
Particularly disturbing to me is that there existed uncertainty as to whether the state’s attorney’s office of Brown County or the Attorney General’s office would prosecute and defense counsel was caught up in a prosecutorial shell game. Numerous conversations, prior to trial, between defense counsel and various prosecutors led defense counsel to believe that full disclosure would be made by the prosecution. Defense counsel was repeatedly assured that open discovery would be allowed. This proved untrue and I believe that the prosecution took advantage of defense counsel. It was just 15 minutes prior to trial that the prosecution revealed the name of the informant and that he would be called to testify. The informant’s testimony, according to the prosecution’s statements to the trial court, was essential. It was therefore equally essential to defense counsel to adequately prepare concerning such testimony.
Late disclosure might not be equated with suppression but leading a brother at the bar to believe he will be given all information on the case and then not doing so only to spring the information 15 minutes prior to trial, is a horse of a different color. Justice is not a game of hide and seek. It is a search for truth. Defense counsel, on behalf of his client, had the right to prepare for effective cross-examination and impeachment of a vital witness. Having been denied a continuance to do so, defense counsel was impaired in effectively defending the cause he was professionally called upon to defend. Furthermore, defense counsel was required to cross-examine witnesses prior to the informer being made available. Thus, his client’s cause was prejudiced. Therefore, I dissent as I believe the trial court abused its discretion in denying a continuance.
I further support this dissent with the following United States Supreme Court language:
What is usually referred to as the informer’s privilege is in reality the Government’s privilege to withhold from disclosure the identity of persons who furnish information of violations of law to officers charged with enforcement of that law. The purpose of the privilege is the furtherance and protection of the public interest in effective law enforcement. The privilege recognizes the obligation of citizens to communicate their knowledge of the commission of crimes to law-enforcement officials and, by preserving their anonymity, encourages them to perform that obligation.

A further limitation on the applicability of the privilege arises from the fundamental requirements of fairness. Where the disclosure of an informer’s identity, or of the contents of his communication, is relevant and helpful to the defense of an accused, or is essential to a fair determination of a cause, the privilege must give way.
Roviaro v. United States, 353 U.S. 53, 59-61, 77 S.Ct. 623, 627-28, 1 L.Ed.2d 639, 644-45 (1957) (citations omitted). The Court concluded that the failure of the government to disclose the identity of the undercover agent in the face of demands by the accused constituted prejudicial error which required reversal of the conviction.