Archive for the ‘Fifth Amendment’ Category

Trump associate Roger Stone invokes Fifth Amendment, won’t …

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Dec. 4, 2018 / 11:13 PM GMT

By Associated Press and Anna Schecter

WASHINGTON Roger Stone, an associate of President Donald Trump, says he won't provide testimony or documents to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

An attorney for Stone said in a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, the committee's top Democrat, that Stone was invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in refusing to produce documents or appear for an interview.

Feinstein made the letter public via Twitter Tuesday afternoon, one day after President Donald Trump tweeted in support of Stone.

Stone has been entangled in investigations by Congress and special counsel Robert Mueller about whether Trump aides had advance knowledge of Democratic emails published by WikiLeaks during the 2016 election.

Stone's attorney said the letter was sent in response to the committee's request. In November Feinstein requested an interview with Stone as well as communications related to WikiLeaks.

On Friday, Nov. 30, a top lawyer for Feinstein emailed Stone's attorney, Grant Smith, asking when Stone "intends to produce the documents requested by the Ranking Member and when he would be available to appear for an interview."

Smith responded on Monday at 9:33 a.m., declining to produce the documents and invoking Stone's Fifth Amendment right.

"The production of documents that may be responsive to the unreasonably broad scope of the imprecise, fishing expedition, request would unquestionably be a testimonial act protected by the U.S. Constitution," the letter said.

At 10:48 a.m., President Donald Trump tweeted in support of Stone, following two tweets criticizing Michael Cohen for trying to get an easy sentence from prosecutors.

"Mr. Stone was surprised by the President's Tweet yesterday," Smith wrote in an email to NBC News Tuesday. "This letter... preceded the President's Tweet in support of Mr. Stone," he wrote.

Stone has not been charged and has said he had no knowledge of the timing or specifics of WikiLeaks' plans.

In his letter to Feinstein, Stone said the committee's requests were "far too overbroad, far too overreaching" and "far too wide ranging."

Anna Schecter is a producer for the investigations unit of NBC News.

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Trump associate Roger Stone invokes Fifth Amendment, won't ...

Roger Stone Invokes Fifth Amendment in Senate Inquiry | Time

President Donald Trumps longtime associate Roger Stone has invoked the Fifth Amendment in response to a request for documents from the highest ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary committee.

In a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Stones attorney, Grant Smith, wrote that his client is declining to provide the documents because the scope of the request is too broad, and he does not want them to be used for private testimony. Mr. Stone decries secrecy. He will not subject himself to the innuendo of non-public proceedings. Nor will he confirm the existence of, or produce the documents of the request, for the purpose of being used in secret proceedings, Smith wrote.

Feinstein posted the letter on her Twitter account Tuesday evening. Since Feinstein is in the minority party, she does not have subpoena power. Her office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Stone testified before the House Select Permanent Committee on Intelligence in 2017 in a closed door testimony. Smith argued in his letter that the secretive nature of the testimony rendered Stone vulnerable to leaks from the Democrats on the committee.

Trump has previously decried those who invoked the Fifth Amendment. In a presidential debate with Hillary Clinton in 2016, he said the fact that her associates had pleaded the Fifth in regards to the investigation into her private email server disgraceful.

At a rally in September of 2016, he also argued that the mob takes the Fifth.

If youre innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment? he asked, rhetorically.

Write to Alana Abramson at Alana.Abramson@time.com.

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Roger Stone Invokes Fifth Amendment in Senate Inquiry | Time

OPD > The Library > Criminal Law Casebook > Fifth Amendment

BasicsState v. Smith, 172 Ohio App. 3d 735, 2007-Ohio-6355 Judges comments at sentencing indicated appellant received an increased sentence because he had chosen to testify against his brother. Reversed.

Chavez v. Martinez (2003), 123 S.Ct. 1994 -- Statements compelled by police interrogation may not be used against a defendant in a criminal trial, but the Self-Incrimination Clause is not violated until such use is intended. This means at least the commencement of legal proceedings. Victim of brutal interrogation at a hospital was not prosecuted, but sought damages in a 1983 action.

Hiibel v. Sixth Judicial District Court of Nevada (2004), 124 S.Ct. 2451 -- Nevada statute requiring the subject of a Terry stop to furnish a name survives Fourth and Fifth Amendment challenges. Unlike the Texas statute in Brown v. Texas (1979), 443 U.S. 47 there has to be reasonable suspicion the subject was involved in criminal activity. Unlike the statute in Kolender v. Lawson (1983), 461 U.S. 352 requiring "credible and reliable" identification, the subject only had to provide a name. The Fifth Amendment claim is fielded by reserving for another time how to address situations where "furnishing identity at the time of a stop would have given the police a link in the chain of evidence needed to convict the individual of a separate offense."

State v. Echols (1998), 128 Ohio App. 3d 677, 701-702 -- The Fifth Amendment right to counsel guarantee rests on not being forced to become a witness against oneself. The Sixth Amendment right to counsel is premised on the guarantee to the accused to have counsel for his defense.

Holt v. United States (1910), 218 U.S. 245 -- The Fifth Amendment does prevent a defendant being directed to put on a blouse for identification purposes. At p. 251: "...(T)he prohibition of compelling a man in a criminal court to be a witness against himself is a prohibition of the use of physical or moral compulsion to extort communications from him, not an exclusion of his body as evidence when it may be material."

United States v. Balsys (1998), 524 U.S. 666 -- Concern about possible prosecution in a foreign country is beyond the scope of the Fifth Amendment. Resident alien did not want to answer questions concerning WWII activities in Lithuania.

Lawn v. United States (1958), 355 U.S. 339 -- An indictment, valid on its face, is not subject to challenge on the basis that the grand jury acted on information obtained in violation of the defendant's privilege against self-incrimination. But see United States v. Calandra (1974), 414 U.S. 338 at 346: "...the grand jury may not force a witness to answer questions in violation of that constitutional guarantee. Rather, the grand jury may override a Fifth Amendment claim only if the witness is granted immunity co-extensive with the privilege against self-incrimination. Kastigar v. United States (406 U.S. 441) Similarly, a grand jury may not compel a person to produce books and papers that would incriminate him. Boyd v. United States 116 U.S. 616, 633-635 (1886). Cf. Couch v. United States, 409 U.S. 322 (1973).

United States v. Licavoli (9th Cir. 1979), 604 F. 2d 613, 623 --Waiver of the Fifth Amendment privilege when testifying before a grand jury does not constitute waiver of the privilege at trial or in other proceedings. Also see United States v. Cain (1st Cir. 1976), 544 F. 2d 113, 117; United States v. Housand (2d Cir. 1977), 550 F. 2d 818, 821 fn. 3; United States v. Johnson (1st Cir. 1973), 488 F. 2d 1206; United States v. Lawrenson (4th Cir. 1963), 315 F. 2d 612.

Shrader v. Equitable Life (1983), 10 Ohio App. 3d 277 -- (1) A party to a civil proceeding does not waive his Fifth Amendment privilege merely by bringing the action. (2) The privilege is waived to the extent questions on direct examination are answered, though when a party is called as on cross the extent of the waiver is more narrowly defined.

Marchetti v. United States (1968), 390 U.S. 39 -- Defendant was prosecuted for failure to register and pay occupational tax on gambling proceeds. Compliance would have generated records which would have been incriminating. Fifth Amendment privilege available in these circumstances. Also see Grosso v. United States (1968), 390 U.S. 62; Shapiro v. United States (1948), 335 U.S. 1.

State v. Wardlow (1985), 20 Ohio App. 3d 1 -- Prosecution of a mother under the endangering children statute for failure to report conduct amounting to a felony violation of other portions of the statute was constitutionally defective as it would have amounted to self-incrimination.

In re Knight (1999), 135 Ohio App. 3d 172 -- Child welfare agency called mother as its first witness in a neglect case. Held to be a Fifth Amendment violation as testimony she might provide could subject her to prosecution for child endangering.

McKune v. Lile (2002), 122 S.Ct. 2017 -- Inmate brought 1983 action contending his Fifth Amendment rights were abridged by worsening the terms of confinement upon refusal to admit prior offenses as a part of a prison rehabilitation program. No violation found, even though admissions might lead to further prosecution for uncharged incidents. Admission of responsibility serves a valid penological objective. Loss of privileges deemed not to be compulsion encumbering the constitutional right. 4-1-4 decision. Four dissenters and concurring justice believe compulsion for Fifth Amendment purposes is broader than the "atypical and significant hardship" standard adopted in evaluating due process claims concerning prison conditions.

Mitchell v. United States (1999), 526 U.S. 314 -- Pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11, entry of a guilty plea does not operate as a waiver of the defendant's Fifth Amendment privilege. Nor may the defendant's silence provide the basis for adverse inferences in determining factual issues at the sentencing hearing.

State v. Cook (1983), 11 Ohio App. 3d 237 -- When a potential defendant is called to testify before a grand jury, Miranda type warnings must be given. If during questioning the witness asserts his privilege against self-incrimination, that decision must be honored unless immunity is granted or an effective waiver is obtained. Grand jury testimony received from a putative defendant without such warning may not be used against him in a subsequent prosecution.

State v. Jackson (1993), 86 Ohio App. 3d 29, 31-32 -- "The right against self-incrimination applies differently depending upon whether it is the witness or the defendant who invokes the Fifth Amendment...Once the defendant has elected to waive the privilege, he may be questioned regarding all matters that were covered on direct and may be subject to searching examination for impeachment purposes...The accused may be cross-examined as to the facts in issue, including his connection with other similar transactions...Although the defendant has taken the stand, he has not entirely waived his Fifth Amendment rights...However, the mere questioning which elicits the assertion of Fifth Amendment rights is not error. Error occurs when the questioning is persistent and the answers are preordained..." (citations omitted)

State v. Taylor (1992), 80 Ohio App. 3d 601 -- At initial appearance defendant was told counsel would be appointed. Subsequently, he mistook a detective for appointed counsel and made admissions. Held that regardless of the defendant's or detective's claims concerning this contact, any interrogation once the right to counsel had been invoked was improper unless initiated by the defendant. Minnick v. Mississippi (1990), 498 U.S. 146, applied.

United States v. Kordel (1970), 397 U.S. 1 -- A corporation does not have a Fifth Amendment privilege, thought its officers and employees may exercise their privilege as individuals.

State v. Lackey (1981), 3 Ohio App. 3d 239 -- Where police officers relying on broadcast would have been entitled to conduct a Terry frisk for weapons, asking the subject first where the gun was did not violate privilege against self-incrimination.

Ohio v. Reiner (2001), 532 U.S. 17 -- A witness has a valid Fifth Amendment privilege, even though they maintain innocence of any wrongdoing. "...(T)ruthful responses of an innocent witness, as well as those of a wrongdoer, may provide the government with incriminating evidence from the speaker's own mouth."

State v. Childress (1990), 66 Ohio App. 3d 491 -- Constitutional (Miranda type) warnings are sometimes required when a witness appears before a grand jury. Witness called before the same grand jury a second time, and charged with perjury on that basis, should have been advised of her privilege to refuse to answer questions which might further incriminate her.

State v. Dinsio (1964), 176 Ohio St. 460 -- Syllabus: "In a criminal case, where a claim of a witness that he can not be compelled to testify as a witness because of the privilege of immunity from self-incrimination is properly established, it is error prejudicial to the defendant for the court to permit counsel for the state, by continued questioning of the witness, which questions go unanswered, to get before the jury innuendoes and inferences of facts, conditions and circumstances which the state could not get before the jury by direct testimony of the witness."

State v. Kirk (1995), 72 Ohio St. 3d 564 -- The right to compulsory process is not denied when the court prevents a witness who intends to exercise his Fifth Amendment privilege from taking the stand, if that witness will exercise the privilege and offer no testimony. Columbus v. Cooper (1990), 49 Ohio St. 3d 42, limited. The defendant is entitled to a an instruction that the jury is to draw no inference from the absence of the witness because the witness was not available to either side. Also see State v. Branham (1995), 104 Ohio App. 3d 355, 360-361.

United States v. Smith (C.A.D.C. 1973), 478 F. 2d 976 -- It was improper for the prosecutor to advise a defense witness that he should confer with independent counsel before testifying to determine whether to exercise his Fifth Amendment privilege, since if he testified as indicated by others, he might be prosecuted for carrying a concealed weapon, obstructing justice and as an accessory. If advice as to the privilege was required, it should have come from the bench. Compare State v, Schaub (1976), 46 Ohio St. 2d 25.

State v. Miller (1997), 122 Ohio App. 3d 111 -- Trial court erroneously refused to allow the defendant to reopen his case when a subpoenaed witness appeared at the courthouse after the jury had been instructed, but before deliberations had begun. Though the witness indicated she would exercise her Fifth Amendment privilege to any question other than her name, the trial had evolved in such a manner that her nonappearance created strong inferences against the defense.

Griffin v. California (1965), 380 U.S. 609 -- The prosecutor may not comment upon a defendant's failure to testify as to matters which he could reasonably be expected to deny or explain. Compare Article I, Sec. 10 of the Ohio Constitution which allows the parties to comment upon the exercise of the privilege against self-incrimination by a witness. Except as applied to defendants, this continues in effect.

United States v. Robinson (1988), 485 U.S. 25 -- There is no violation of a defendant's Fifth Amendment privilege when a prosecutor's assertion in argument that the defendant could have taken the stand was a "fair response" to assertions by defense counsel that the government had unfairly denied him an opportunity to explain his actions. Also see State v. Washington (June 20, 1978), Franklin Co. App. No. 77AP-947, unreported (1978 Opinions 1619, 1627-1630); State v. Auerbach (1923), 108 Ohio St. 96; United States v. Tasto (5th Cir. 1978), 586 F. 2d 1068.

Carter v. Kentucky (1981), 450 U.S. 288 -- A defendant is entitled to a jury instruction that no adverse inferences are to be drawn from his exercise of his right not to testify. Also see State v. Fannings (1982), 1 Ohio St. 3d 19.

State v. Lane (1976), 49 Ohio St. 2d 77, 86 -- Griffin viewed as prohibiting only direct comment upon the accused's failure to testify.

State v. Neal (January 23, 1996), Franklin Co. App. No. 95APA05-542, unreported (1996 Opinions 177, 203) -- Mention in voir dire that defendant might or might not testify not found to be a Griffin violation.

Doyle v. Ohio (1976), 426 U.S. 610 -- Use of post arrest silence for impeachment purposes violates the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. For additional cases see Admissions and Confessions.

State v. Nichols (June 26, 1979), Franklin Co. App. No. 79AP-57, unreported (1979 Opinions 1699) -- It is improper to ask a defendant why he refused to sign a constitutional rights waiver form. Also see State v. Stephens (1970), 24 Ohio St. 2d 76; Gillison v. United States (1968), 399 F. 2d 586. Compare State v. Perryman (1976), 49 Ohio St. 2d 14, 20 -- Waiver made, but privilege asserted after detectives told defendant what co-conspirators had said.

State v. Saunders (1994), 98 Ohio App. 3d 355 -- Comment that the defendant did not tell the police she acted in self-defense found to be a Fifth Amendment violation. See Doyle v. Ohio (1976), 426 U.S. 610. Since was first mentioned in closing argument, do not reach issue whether or not defendant had been advised of Miranda rights before elected to remain silent. See Fletcher v. Weir (1982), 455 U.S. 603.

In re Billman (1993), 92 Ohio App. 3d 279 -- Juvenile Court dependency finding reversed and remanded where parent had been compelled to testify despite asserting her Fifth Amendment privilege.

In re Johnson (1996), 106 Ohio App. 3d 38 -- Error to permit prosecutor to ask unrepresented juvenile if he would stipulate prior conviction without first advising him of his Miranda rights.

Doe v. United States (1988), 487 U.S. 201 -- Order directing suspect to sign forms consenting to release of foreign bank documents not contrary to the Fifth Amendment. Signing was not the equivalent of testimonial communication.

Andressen v. Maryland (1976), 427 U.S. 463 -- Seizure of business records containing statements defendant had voluntarily reduced to writing was not a violation of the Fifth Amendment.

State v. Aronson (1993), 91 Ohio App. 3d 714 -- Indicted defendants successfully moved to quash grand jury subpoenas for business records of bingo operation which had not been located during the execution of search warrants. While as custodians of the records they could be compelled to produce them, the state was required to first make some showing that the requested documents were in the subpoenaed party's possession or subject to his control. Otherwise, compliance with the subpoena could amount to self-incrimination.

Schmerber v. California (1966), 384 U.S. 757 -- The Fifth Amendment privilege does not extend to the drawing of a blood sample for purposes of chemical analysis. Also see State v. Sapsford (1983), 22 Ohio App. 3d 1 (dental casts, photos, wax impressions).

South Dakota v. Neville (1983), 459 U.S. 553 -- Admission of evidence that the defendant refused to submit to a blood alcohol test did not violate the Fifth Amendment, though the defendant had only been warned that under the state's implied consent law, refusal could lead to a loss of his license. Also see State v. Starnes (1970), 21 Ohio St. 3d 38 -- Implied consent law does not violate Fourth or Fifth Amendments.

United States v. Wade (1967), 388 U.S. 218 -- Compelling an accused to participate in a lineup does not violate the privilege against self-incrimination.

Gilbert v. California (1967), 388 U.S. 263 -- Handwriting exemplars are not subject to the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. Also see State v. Flinn (1982), 7 Ohio App. 3d 294; United States v. Mara (1973), 410 U.S. 19 (exemplar may be compelled pursuant to grand jury subpoena).

United States v. Dionisio (1973), 410 U.S. 1 -- The compelled display of identifiable physical characteristics infringes no interest protected by the Fifth Amendment. A person may be subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury and furnish a voice exemplar. Also see State v. Sutton (1979), 64 Ohio App. 2d 105.

State v. Naylor (1980), 70 Ohio App. 2d 233 -- Headnote: "Where the defendant is required to repeat, over objection, words and sentences used during the progress of a crime by one of the perpetrators of that criminal act, and where the defendant is required to speak those words and sentences in the presence of the jury for the express purpose of allowing the victim of the crime to arrive at an in-court identification of the speaker, such a requirement is violative of the defendant's rights under both the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution."

In re Grand Jury Directive to Creager (1993), 89 Ohio App. 3d 672 -- Defendant was properly found in contempt for refusal to provide a handwriting exemplar. The privilege against self-incrimination under the Ohio Constitution is identical to that found in the Fifth Amendment.

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OPD > The Library > Criminal Law Casebook > Fifth Amendment

Stormy Daniels’ lawyer pushes back on Cohen’s ‘blanket …

Daniels' lawyer, Michael Avenatti, is responding to Trump attorney Michael Cohen's request Wednesday to plead his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination in the Daniels lawsuit over her alleged affair with Trump because of the ongoing criminal investigation he faces in New York.

Cohen's request was an attempt to stop a lawsuit over a hush agreement he made with Daniels over the alleged 2006 encounter with Trump.

Cohen told the California court earlier this week that the FBI seized electronic devices and records related to his hush payment to Clifford in raids earlier this month.

In his response, Avenatti wrote that Cohen's lawyers "offer a skeletal declaration from Michael Cohen asserting an across-the-board, blanket refusal to answer any questions.

"But such blanket claims of Fifth Amendment privilege are expressly prohibited by law," he argued.

Avenatti also wrote that other witnesses could testify in the California case, and that would allow it to go forward without Cohen's testimony about certain topics. Avenatti says other potential witnesses include the bank that executed the payment to Daniels, Daniels' former attorney Keith Davidson, Cohen's wife and others.

Avenatti did not name the President as a potential witness in the lawsuit, though Trump is one of the parties being sued in addition to Cohen.

Avenatti also used Cohen's and Trump's own words to make the point that Cohen shouldn't be able to take the Fifth. Daniels' lawyer cited an interview Cohen gave to CNN in which he said his payments to Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, were "perfectly legal." He also pointed to Trump's assertions Thursday morning that Cohen did "absolutely nothing wrong" related to the $130,000 payment to Clifford.

The judge in California, James Otero, indicated earlier this week he would look at whether "less drastic means or measures" than stopping the lawsuit from going forward are possible. The judge may also consider separating Daniels' complaint that Cohen defamed her from a complaint against Trump and a shell company Cohen used regarding the hush agreement.

Cohen was in court in Manhattan on Thursday. Cohen's lawyers and an independent attorney in New York are reviewing the documents to block any that might fall under attorney-client privilege from prosecutors. The criminal investigation involves the Daniels payment, which Cohen made weeks before the 2016 presidential election, and several other business matters.

Avenatti, speaking on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360" Thursday evening, said he believes Trump's statements on Fox strengthen their case and raises discrepancies in the claims put forward on Trump and Cohen's side.

"I think the President is making it up as he goes along," Avenatti said. "I think Michael Cohen has made it up as he has gone along, and this is what happens."

CNN's Eli Watkins contributed to this report.

Originally posted here:
Stormy Daniels' lawyer pushes back on Cohen's 'blanket ...

Asserting the Fifth Amendment in Court and the Granting of …

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution are commonly known as the Bill of Rights and were ratified on December 15, 1791. It is remarkable how many of these amendments are still resilient today throughout the United States. Their individual freedoms against government interference include: the freedom of speech and religion and the right to peaceably assemble (First Amendment); the right to keep and bear arms (Second Amendment); the protection against unreasonable searches and seizures (Fourth Amendment); double jeopardy and due process protections, the prohibition against compelled self-incrimination, and compensation for private property taken for public use (Fifth Amendment); the right to counsel, speedy and public trial, impartial jury, confronting witnesses, and compulsory process to obtain witnesses (Sixth Amendment); and the protections against excessive bail and fines and cruel and unusual punishments (Eighth Amendment). This post focuses on the Fifth Amendment self-incrimination provision in the courtroom and the granting of immunity to a witness to compel testimony.

The Fifth Amendment privilege protects a person against compelled self-incrimination. A similar privilege exists in section 23 of Article I of the North Carolina Constitution, which has not been interpreted more expansively than the Fifth Amendment. While the privilege protects a person against compelled testimony and similar communications, it does not against compelled nontestimonial acts such as submitting to fingerprints, photographs, and sobriety testing, speaking for identification, appearing in lineups, and giving blood samples. See e.g., Schmerber v. California, 384 U.S. 757, 764-65 (1966) (withdrawal and chemical analysis of blood did not implicate defendants testimonial capacities and thus did not violate Fifth Amendment). The privilege may be invoked in any proceeding, civil or criminal, including a criminal investigation. It protects against any compelled disclosures that a person reasonably believes could be used in a criminal prosecution or could lead to the discovery of other evidence that might be used in a prosecution. Kastigar v. United States, 406 U.S. 441, 444-45 (1972). When a witness invokes the privilege, the trial court must determine whether it may be reasonably inferred that the answer may be incriminating, and the invocation should be liberally construed.

A criminal defendant has the right under the Fifth Amendment privilege to decline to take the stand. If a defendant decides not to testify, the State or a judge may not call the defendant to the stand, and a codefendant may not call the defendant to the stand at their joint trial. However, a defendant who voluntarily takes the stand and testifies in his or her own behalf cannot invoke the privilege on cross-examination concerning matters made relevant by direct examination. When a defendant exercises his or her Fifth Amendment privilege by not testifying at trial, any reference by the State or the trial court about the defendants election not to testify violates the Fifth Amendment.

A witness who is not a criminal defendant has the right under the Fifth Amendment privilege to refuse to answer a question if: (1) the answer may tend to incriminate the witness; (2) the witness is not immune from prosecution; and (3) the witness has timely invoked the privilege in response to a question. However, a witness who testified on direct examination cannot invoke the privilege on cross-examination concerning matters made relevant by direct examination.

A judge has the discretion whether (1) to advise a witness of his or her right not to answer incriminating questions, and (2) to allow the State or the defendant to call a witness to invoke the privilege before the jury.

A witness who invokes the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination in any criminal or civil hearing or proceeding, including a grand jury, may be ordered to testify or produce other information when the witness has been granted immunity under Article 61 of Chapter 15A. Although an order granting immunity may be issued in any criminal or civil matter, only a district attorney is authorized to apply for an order, and the application must be made before a superior court judge. G.S. 15A-1052(a). Thus, almost all applications involve criminal proceedings.

If the State later prosecutes the immunized witness, it has the burden of proving at the later trial that its evidence was obtained completely independent of the compelled testimony or information provided by the immunized witness. Although the standard of the burden of proof has not been decided by North Carolina appellate courts, they likely would follow federal law and require proof by a preponderance of evidence. United States v. Slough, 641 F.3d 544, 550 (D.C. Cir. 2011).

This has been a brief overview. If you are interested in a more detailed discussion, you may access my recently-published section, Fifth Amendment Privilege and Grant of Immunity, in the North Carolina Superior Court Judges Benchbook, which is available here.

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Asserting the Fifth Amendment in Court and the Granting of ...