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STATE ex rel. Michael WALKER v. STATE of Louisiana.
Writ granted in part; otherwise denied; case remanded to the district court. The district court is ordered to appoint counsel for relator and hold a hearing at which it will determine whether the state's use of his silence at a preliminary hearing to impeach the testimony he subsequently offered at trial violated the rule of Doyle v. Ohio, 426 U.S. 610, 96 S.Ct. 2240, 49 L.Ed.2d 91 (1976) and had a substantial and injurious effect on the jury's verdict. See Brecht v. Abrahamson, 507 U.S. 619, 634-38, 113 S.Ct. 1710, 1720-22, 123 L.Ed.2d 353 (1993). Trial counsel's objection on relevancy grounds adequately preserved the issue for review. See Doyle, 426 U.S. at 632, 96 S.Ct. at 2251 (Stevens, J., dissenting) (defendant's silence at preliminary examination “probably attributable to [advice of] counsel” and so wholly irrelevant to defendant's credibility); see also State v. Duke, 362 So.2d 559, 561 (La.1978); State v. Rosette, 94-1075, p. 3 (La.App.3rd Cir. 3/22/95), 653 So.2d 80, 81. In all other respects the application is denied.
FOOTNOTES
PER CURIAM.* FN* Victory, J., not on panel. See La.S.Ct.Rule IV, Part II, § 3.
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Docket No: No. 98-KH-0916.
Decided: March 19, 1999
Court: Supreme Court of Louisiana.
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FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
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