Court Opinion

ID: 9648756
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 14:34:14.107081+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:08:08.559283
License: Public Domain

KERN, Associate Judge,
concurring:
While I agree that the trial court erred in refusing to permit defense counsel during voir dire to question Latita Simms on her ability to recall events, I do not agree that its error deprived appellant of his Fifth Amendment right to due process in light of the opportunity afforded defense counsel at trial to examine the witness’ competency and the trial court’s determination again at this point that she was competent.
It is obvious that the court, by permitting one counsel but not the other to propound questions at the voir dire of the witness, erroneously exercised the discretion it has in the method of examining witnesses to determine their competency. However, as the court’s opinion convincingly demonstrates, the trial court’s error in the exercise of its discretion was not so severe as to require reversal. See Johnson v. United States, D.C.App., 398 A.2d 354, 366 (1979).