Court Opinion

ID: 9789371
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 01:35:36.318918+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:44:56.614428
License: Public Domain

FELDMAN, Justice,
concurring.
I disagree with that portion of the court’s opinion dealing with the offer of proof as to defendant’s proposed evidence on insanity. (See 150 Ariz. 114-115, 722 P.2d at 282-283.)
The state sought to exclude the lay testimony and documentary evidence (possibly including, we were told at oral argument, hospital records indicating defendant’s hospitalizations at relevant times for manic depressive psychosis) on the grounds that without expert testimony on the M’Naghten standard, the evidence would not create a jury issue on the insanity defense. The court granted the state’s motion, thus *118excluding the testimony. It is not possible to tell whether this was error or, if it was, whether it was prejudicial because the record does not show what evidence defendant actually could have presented on the subject. As the majority indicates, pursuant to some custom in the local court, the offer of proof was discussed in chambers, with no court reporter present and no record made then or subsequently. Maj. 150 Ariz. at 114-115, 722 P.2d at 282-283. Nevertheless, the court holds that the offer of proof required by Rule 103(a)(2), Ariz. R.Evid., 17A A.R.S., was “adequately complied with by defendant, considering the trial court’s customary procedure in chambers.” Id.
An offer of proof is not sufficient to preserve a claim of error on appeal unless it is made on the record. M. UDALL & J. LIVERMORE, ARIZONA LAW OF EVIDENCE § 13 at 2021 (2d ed. 1982); McCORMICK, EVIDENCE § 51 at 124-25 (3rd ed. 1984); Montano v. Scottsdale Baptist Hospital, 119 Ariz. 448, 581 P.2d 682 (1978). No local “customary procedure” can repeal the Rules of Evidence nor the legal requirements created by the decisions of this court. Defendant was allowed to make his objection to the court’s ruling on the record, and should have used that opportunity to make an offer of proof by avowal as to the details of the proposed testimony. M. UDALL & J. LIVERMORE, supra, § 13 at 20. Of course, an offer may be excused where the court refuses to allow the defendant an opportunity to make an offer of proof, rules that no evidence of any kind is admissible on the issue or the nature of the evidence is so obvious that no offer is necessary. Id. at 22. However, the record here does not show such an extreme situation; the absence of a written record converts all discussion to rank speculation.
I am not unaware of the pressures which may exist from time to time in particular areas to “get along by going along.” However, the difficult job of a trial lawyer occasionally makes it necessary to plant one’s feet and protect a client’s interests by making a record even if such obduracy defies custom.
Assuming that we could properly reach the substantive issue, I agree with the court’s holding that defendant may meet his burden of proof on the insanity issue without expert testimony. I also agree with the remainder of the court’s opinion and therefore concur in the judgment and disposition of the case.