State v. Thompson

803 P.2d 973, 119 Idaho 67, 1990 Ida. LEXIS 205
CourtIdaho Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 28, 1990
Docket16941
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 803 P.2d 973 (State v. Thompson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Idaho Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Thompson, 803 P.2d 973, 119 Idaho 67, 1990 Ida. LEXIS 205 (Idaho 1990).

Opinions

PER CURIAM.

The named defendant was charged with multiple counts of delivery of a controlled substance. He retained counsel and entered a not guilty plea. Defense counsel conducted attempts at discovery well in advance of a trial which proceeded no further than selection of a jury. Shortly before the trial date defense counsel filed a motion in limine which claimed prejudice by reason of the State’s failure in regard to discovery. The trial court found such failure was factually established, and imposed a monetary sanction on the State. The State has appealed the imposition of that sanction.1

The 1969 Idaho legislature amended Ch. 13, Title 19, Idaho Code, by adding thereto § 19-1309, which has remained intact since passage. The plain intent of § 19-1309 is to require discovery by both the state and defendant in advance of trial, and, presumably, to expedite criminal trials and diminish opportunities for surprise.

Ten years later the Supreme Court in 1979 promulgated Idaho Criminal Rule 16, which was amended in the following year. The rule does not refer to the statute, but is obviously designed to amplify on the statute in an effort to assist prosecutors and defense counsel in utilizing discovery processes.

As applicable in this case, the issue presented to the trial court, and in turn to this Court, hinges on the remedial provisions of the statute and the rule where a [68]*68party, either the state or the defendant, has failed to comply with I.C. § 19-1309, which provides in part:

(7) If at any time during the course of the proceedings it is brought to the attention of the court that a party has failed to comply with this section or with an order issued pursuant to this section, the court may order such party to permit the discovery or inspection of materials not previously disclosed, grant a continuance, or prohibit the party from introducing in evidence the material not disclosed, or it may enter such other order as it deems just under the circumstances.

(Emphasis added.) The Court’s Criminal Rule 16 provides in part:

(j) Orders for discovery. If a party has failed to comply with a request for discovery under this rule, the court upon motion of a party, may, order a party to permit the discovery or inspection, prohibit the discovery of part or all of the information, evidence or material sought to be discovered, or enter such other order as it deems just in the circumstances.

(Emphasis added.)

In this case, shortly before the scheduled jury trial the defendant by motion and affidavit informed the court of the State’s failure to have timely complied with defendant’s requested discovery and with the court’s order requiring such compliance; the defendant claimed and detailed resultant prejudice in going to trial by reason thereof.

On that day of the scheduled trial the prospective jurors appeared and a jury panel was selected. The court recessed to consider the defendant’s motion. A mini-trial was conducted on the issue of noncompliance, with the court receiving testimony and other evidence. The court heard oral argument of counsel, and thereafter ruled on the defendant’s pending motion by way of written findings of fact, conclusions of law, and order as follows:

I.
The defendant filed his initial Request for Discovery and Inspection Pursuant to Rule 16(a) with the Court on or about July 21, 1986. That said Request for Discovery set forth in a specific request which read as follows:
That the defendant be apprised of and be permitted to copy, inspect, or photograph the results of or reports on any scientific tests or experiments made in connection with this case.
That defendant filed a Supplemental Request for Discovery and inspection with the Court on or about January 2, 1987.
II.
The Court finds that plaintiff, State of Idaho, has, in this matter, violated or failed to comply with Rule 16 of the Idaho Criminal Rules by failing to provide defendant and his attorney with copies of the test results obtained by the State’s agents, employees, or witnesses as requested by defendant’s Request for Discovery and Inspection Pursuant to Rule 16(a) filed with the Court on or about July 21, 1986. That the State has further violated or failed to comply with Rule 16 by failing to provide documents and evidence, such as maintenance logs, requested by defendant in his Supplemental Request for Discovery and Inspection filed with the Court on January 2, 1987.
III.
That the violation or failure of compliance with Rule 16 on the part of the State occurred despite the fact that the matter of discovery in this case had been brought to the attention of the court at hearing held substantially prior to trial, and further despite the Court having issued an order regarding the same.
IV.
That the violation or failure of compliance with Rule 16 on the part of the State caused prejudice to defendant and [69]*69impaired his attorney’s ability to prepare for trial.
V.
That because the State violated or failed to comply with Rule 16 and meet its obligation of disclosure prior to this matter having come on for trial, and because such has caused prejudice to defendant, the Court finds that this is a proper case for imposition of sanctions against the State. The court deems that in the circumstances of this case, that it would be just to order sanctions in the form of an award of certain costs and attorney fees against the State and unto the defendant and his attorney.
VI.
The Court has previously requested that defendant’s attorney submit a memorandum of costs and attorneys fees relating to said attorney’s trip to the State of Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Forensic Laboratory on January 14, 1987, and said attorney’s fees for preparation and attendance at the proceedings conducted in this matter at the time scheduled for trial on January 19 and 20, 1987. That defendant’s attorney filed a Memorandum of Costs and Attorneys Fees with the Court on or about January 22, 1987, and, at the direction of the Court, filed an Amended Memorandum of Costs and Attorney Fees with the Court on or about February 13, 1987. That on March 4, 1987, hearing was held on defendant’s Amended Memorandum of Costs and Attorneys Fees and on plaintiff’s Objection to Defendant’s Memorandum of Costs and Attorney Fees. The Court having reviewed the matter and considered plaintiff’s objections, the Court denies said objection and finds that the order for payment of costs and attorneys fees in this matter should consist of mileage at the rate of 20.5 cents per mile in the amount of $49.20, plus attorneys fees in the amount of $1,704.00, in total the sum of $1,753.20.
NOW, THEREFORE, BASED UPON THE FOREGOING, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that sanctions in the form of an order for payment of costs and attorneys fees in favor of defendant and his attorney be assessed against the plaintiff in this matter, and plaintiff is therefore hereby ORDERED to pay unto defendant and his attorney in the sum of $1,753.20.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
803 P.2d 973, 119 Idaho 67, 1990 Ida. LEXIS 205, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-thompson-idaho-1990.