Notes of Decisions
Remedies in this section for violation of ORS 135.815 (Disclosure to defendant) are in the alternative and are subject to choice by court rather than by defense counsel. State v. Hand, 19 Or App 514, 528 P2d 126 (1974), Sup Ct review denied
This section makes it clear that not every breach of duty imposed by pretrial discovery statutes requires suppression of proffered evidence. State v. Curtis, 20 Or App 35, 530 P2d 520 (1975), Sup Ct review denied
Though presence or absence of prejudice is important factor to be considered by trial court in deciding whether to impose sanction of refusing to receive in evidence material that has not been disclosed, this section does not require existence of prejudice as condition to imposition of that sanction. State v. Wolfe, 21 Or App 717, 536 P2d 555 (1975), affd 273 Or 518, 542 P2d 482 (1975); State v. Dyson, 292 Or 26, 636 P2d 961 (1981). But see State v. Mai, 294 Or 269, 656 P2d 315 (1982)
Trial court had discretion to suppress testimony of states witness where the state violated discovery statutes. State v. Johnson, 26 Or App 651, 554 P2d 624 (1976)
In prosecution for driving under influence of intoxicants where police officers report was lost and unavailable for discovery, it was error for court, as sanction, to suppress officers testimony limited to fact that defendant was driving. State v. Campbell, 44 Or App 3, 604 P2d 1266 (1980), Sup Ct review denied
Where there was nothing in record to show that trial judge considered whether, or to what extent, defendant was prejudiced if in fact state violated discovery statutes, it was improper for trial court to allow defendants pretrial motion to dismiss complaint for states alleged failure to allow defendant discovery. State v. Mead, 44 Or App 53, 604 P2d 1283 (1980)
Prejudice which resulted from states failure to provide defendant with tape recording prior to trial was adequately dispelled when trial court granted defendant 13-day continuance and leave to reopen case. State v. Kersey, 54 Or App 944, 636 P2d 1009 (1981)
Court is required to make inquiry into alleged discovery violation and possible prejudicial effect prior to allowing introduction of evidence. State v. George, 55 Or App 224, 637 P2d 1305 (1981), as modified by 56 Or App 1, 640 P2d 1043 (1982)
Where exculpatory nature of unavailable evidence was speculative and where it would have been cumulative of other evidence produced at trial, trial judge did not abuse his discretion in denying motions to suppress and dismiss. State v. Guinn, 56 Or App 412, 642 P2d 312 (1982)
The preclusion sanction of this section is not inconsistent with the Article I, Section 11 right to compulsory process of the Oregon Constitution provided that the court finds that the prosecution is prejudiced by defendants failure to comply with the reciprocal discovery statutes and provided further that it appears that no sanction short of preclusion effectively will avoid the prejudice which defendants lack of compliance created. State v. Mai, 294 Or 269, 656 P2d 315 (1982); State v. Johanesen, 110 Or App 348, 822 P2d 154 (1991); State v. Fain, 132 Or App 488, 888 P2d 1052 (1995)
It was proper to exclude videotape where trial had been twice postponed, repeated attempts by defendants attorney to secure copy of videotape were unsuccessful, trial judge ordered copy provided defendant one week prior to scheduled trial date, trial judge expressly concluded that nondisclosure prejudiced defendant and trial judge concluded that district attorney had shown notable lack of diligence in following through on discovery efforts. State v. Kull, 298 Or 38, 688 P2d 1327 (1984)
Law Review Citations
18 WLR 291 (1982)
See also annotations under ORS 133.755 in permanent edition.
Notes of Decisions
Copy of letter sent to district court and also to district attorneys office, entering not guilty plea and stating by copy of this letter I am demanding reciprocal discovery from the District Attorneys office, was insufficient to make formal demand for disclosure of classes of information available under these sections. State v. Sheppard, 32 Or App 345, 573 P2d 1276 (1978), Sup Ct review denied
Specifications, operating instructions and repair and maintenance records for radar device with which arresting officer measured defendants speed were not discoverable under these sections. State v. Spada, 33 Or App 257, 576 P2d 33 (1978), affd286 Or 305, 594 P2d 815 (1979)
These sections afford defendant opportunity to obtain specific and detailed information about states theory of case and evidence it intends to produce at trial, and purposes that indictments and complaints are designed to serve in criminal cases are now served as well or better by discovery. State v. Strandquist, 57 Or App 404, 644 P2d 658 (1982), Sup Ct review denied
Nothing in discovery statutes prevents state from initiating grand jury investigation of possible criminal activities by potential defense witnesses. State v. Huffman, 65 Or App 594, 672 P2d 1351 (1983)
Where defendant appeals conviction and trial court precluded defense witness because of alleged discovery violation and state being prejudiced, trial court obligated to explore other alternatives to remedy prejudice before precluding witness from testifying. State v. Gill, 96 Or App 358, 772 P2d 957 (1989)
Law Review Citations
51 OLR 354-369 (1972); 10 WLJ 145-166 (1974); 18 WLR 279 (1982)