Court Opinion

ID: 9789386
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 01:35:48.542972+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:22.221774
License: Public Domain

BROUSSARD, J., Concurring and Dissenting.
I concur in all parts of the majority opinion except its assertion that future appeals should be governed by the rule of Luce v. United States (1984) 469 U.S. 38, 42 [83 L.Ed.2d 443, 448, 105 S.Ct. 460, 464]. The Luce rule provides that a defendant cannot challenge on appeal an erroneous ruling admitting prior convictions for purpose of impeachment unless he has testified, and suffered impeachment, before the jury trying his case. The primary purpose of the rule is to provide the appellate court with a record sufficient to enable it to assess the prejudicial effect of the trial court’s ruling. That goal, however, can be achieved in a way less destructive of defendant’s rights: by permitting defendant to testify outside of the presence of the jury.
When a trial court rules that it will permit a prior conviction to be used for impeachment, the defendant faces a dilemma. As we explained in People v. Fries (1979) 24 Cal.3d 222 [155 Cal.Rptr. 194, 594 P.2d 19], “[i]f a defendant testifies and is impeached by means of a prior felony conviction, there is a widely acknowledged danger that this evidence will be misused by the trier of fact. ‘Despite limiting instructions, the jury is likely to *398consider this evidence for the improper purpose of determining whether the accused is the type of person who would engage in criminal activity. ’ (People v. Antick [1975] 15 Cal.3d [79,] 97 [23 Cal.Rptr. 475, 539 P.2d 43].) As the United States Supreme Court has noted in a related context, evidence of a ‘defendant’s prior trouble with the law ... is said to weigh too much with the jury and to so overpersuade them as to prejudge one with a bad general record and deny him a fair opportunity to defend against a particular charge.’ (Michaelson v. United States (1948) 335 U.S. 469, 475-476 [93 L.Ed. 168,173-174, 69 S.Ct. 213].)” (24 Cal.3d at pp. 227-228; see People v. Thompson (1980) 27 Cal.3d 303 [165 Cal.Rptr. 289, 611 P.2d 883]; McCormick, Evidence (2d ed. 1972) § 43.)
On the other hand, if a defendant elects not to testify to keep evidence of prior convictions from the jury, he foregoes the opportunity personally to persuade the jury of his innocence, and risks that the jury will infer that his failure personally to explain or deny evidence against him arises from his inability to do so. (People v. Fries, supra, 24 Cal.3d 222, 228-229.) Despite these drawbacks, however, the effect of proof of prior convictions can be so devastating that not testifying may be the wisest course of action— perhaps the only course that will permit trial by an impartial jury.
The Luce rule exacerbates this dilemma. Under that rule a defendant who elects not to testify also loses the right to challenge the trial court’s ruling on appeal. A defendant must choose between trial before a jury prejudiced against him as a result of the improper admission of impeaching convictions, or an appeal before a court which will not hear his claim that the ruling below was erroneous.
The Luce decision asserts that review of defendant’s testimony is essential so that the appellate court can determine whether the trial court erred in deciding to admit the impeaching testimony, and whether that error is prejudicial. Creating a record for appellate review, however, does not require that defendant testify and submit to impeachment before the trier of fact. Such a record could be created by having defendant testify in camera after the prosecution has concluded its case. Such testimony could be subject to cross-examination, and, while not literally binding on defendant, could be used to impeach any inconsistent testimony later offered at trial. This is a heavy burden to put on a defendant to preserve an issue for appeal, but it is still much less onerous than requiring him to submit to impeachment by proof of prior convictions in front of the jury which will decide his guilt or innocence.
In short, the Luce rule is an oppressive one, putting a defendant to a forced choice between prejudicing his right to a fair trial or his right to *399appeal. The majority maintain that such consequences do not reach the level of a constitutional violation, but they are serious enough that we should not adopt the rule unless there are compelling reasons for doing so. Those reasons advanced by the Luce court and endorsed by the majority—to facilitate appellate review of issues of error and prejudice—are not sufficient since a suitable record can be obtained by in camera testimony without introducing prejudicial impeaching evidence before the jury. I therefore dissent from the majority’s conclusion that Luce should govern review of future cases.
Bird, C. J., and Reynoso, J., concurred.
Appellant’s petition for a rehearing was denied September 10,1986. Bird, C. J., and Reynoso, J., were of the opinion that the petition should be granted.