📄 Sidebar: redirect examination — Monday, June 26, 1995
Address:
C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JUN\26\SIDEBAR-REDIRECT-EXAMINATION.DOC
TRIAL
▲ Day 103 of 167

Sidebar: redirect examination

Date: Monday, June 26, 1995 • Utterances: 25
During a sidebar, prosecutor Clarke asks permission to clarify on redirect that the court itself ordered the prosecution to provide population frequency calculations for DNA mixtures — because the defense's recent cross-examination left the jury with the misleading impression that such calculations were unusual or inappropriate. Neufeld does not object in principle but wants to approve the question framing in advance. Judge Ito coaches Clarke on a narrow, efficient way to elicit the point.
1 THE COURT:

Thank you. Mr. Clarke.

2 MR. CLARKE:

Would a brief break be possible to bring something up with the Court?

3 THE COURT:

Bring something up with the Court?

4 MR. CLARKE:

I'm sorry. No. To bring a matter before the Court's attention for resolution.

5 THE COURT:

With the court reporter.

6 (The following proceedings were held at the bench:)
7 THE COURT:

We're over at sidebar. Mr. Clarke.

8 MR. CLARKE:

The only item I wanted to bring up, in our view, as a result of this questioning recently, the last few minutes about the witness' awareness or the witness' personal involvement in providing frequencies for mixtures, that that opens up the fact that we were directed by the Court to provide frequencies. Otherwise, the jury is left with a misleading impression that, well, this is the first time this has come up. The answer is, we were ordered to do that by this Court. So I wanted to bring that to the Court's attention. But I think at this point, that's relevant and admissible.

9 MR. NEUFELD:

I have no problem with that.

10 THE COURT:

All right.

11 MR. NEUFELD:

As long as it's done--you know, could we just have ground rules how the question is going to be framed so it's not a leading question and so it's done--

12 THE COURT:

Well, he--the only way to get a straight answer here is to ask a leading question because if I were you--you know, in this context, if I were you, I would let Mr. Clarke lead him into this.

KEY QUOTE
13 MR. NEUFELD:

Could you tell me what the question is now so--so I--just let me know what the question is now.

14 MR. CLARKE:

Could I have just a moment?

15 THE COURT:

Sure.

16 MR. NEUFELD:

That's all.

17 (Brief pause.)
18 (Discussion held off the record between the Deputy District Attorneys.)
19 MR. CLARKE:

Pursuant--as a result of a Defense request in this case, the Court ordered that--

20 THE COURT:

After a hearing. After a hearing in this matter, you were directed by the Court--

21 MR. CLARKE:

Well, I think it really puts it in an overall accurate picture to describe what happened here.

22 THE COURT:

You can say after a hearing, you were ordered by the Court to provide--

23 MR. CLARKE:

The problem is, that doesn't describe it accurately. It makes it seem as though this witness in the past should have been doing this type of calculation when in reality, it was the witness' testimony that, "No, I haven't done these calculations before because we don't feel it's appropriate to do it that way."

24 THE COURT:

You can ask him that question. Ask him, "Why you don't think it's appropriate," and ask him, "Were you ordered by the Court to do this?" "Yes." "Why don't you think it's appropriate?" "X, Y and Z." "Thank you," and sit down.

KEY QUOTE
25 MR. CLARKE:

Well, I do have some other questions.

Temperature

procedural

Key Quotes (3)

George Clarke
the jury is left with a misleading impression that, well, this is the first time this has come up. The answer is, we were ordered to do that by this Court.
Clarke's core concern — that the defense's questioning implied the frequency calculations were novel or suspect, when in fact the court itself mandated them.
Lance A. Ito
the only way to get a straight answer here is to ask a leading question because if I were you — you know, in this context, if I were you, I would let Mr. Clarke lead him into this.
Ito takes an unusually hands-on role, effectively advising the prosecutor on trial strategy.
Lance A. Ito
You can ask him that question. Ask him, 'Why you don't think it's appropriate,' and ask him, 'Were you ordered by the Court to do this?' 'Yes.' 'Why don't you think it's appropriate?' 'X, Y and Z.' 'Thank you,' and sit down.
Ito scripts the redirect examination in detail, showing frustration with inefficiency and a desire to keep testimony tightly bounded.

Evidence (1)

Informal
Population frequency calculations for DNA mixtures — the court-ordered analysis at issue on redirect
discussed

Notable Exchanges (2)

Lance A. ItoGeorge Clarke
Ito scripts the exact questions Clarke should ask on redirect, including the precise sequence and suggested answers, after Clarke pushes back on the judge's narrower framing.
directive
George ClarkePeter Neufeld
Neufeld agrees the clarification is permissible but requests advance notice of the question wording before Clarke proceeds.
cooperative

Objections

None recorded
Proceeding 6558 • 25 utterances
Criminal Trial
Department 103
⚖️ Start
📂 JUN 26, 1995 📄 Sidebar: redirect examination
JUN 26, 1995 KRT DvH TD