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150 Wash. 2d 626

State v. Cheatam

Washington Supreme Court

Decided December 11, 2003

Washington Supreme Court · decided 2003-12-11

Cited by 24 later decisions — most recently November 2018

1 district · 22 state decisions

Key passage — most relied on by later courts

“[W]here eyewitness identification of the defendant is a key element of the State's case, the trial court must carefully consider whether expert testimony on the reliability of eyewitness identification would assist the jury in assessing the reliability of eyewitness testimony. In making this determination the court should consider the proposed testimony and the specific subjects involved in the identification to which the testimony relates, such as whether the victim and the defendant are of the same race, whether the defendant displayed a weapon, the effect of stress, etc.”

quoted by 2 later decisions, including State v. Ferguson, State v. Jaime

Relies on 95 Wash. 2d 170 - State v. Simpson · State v. Robbins

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 2003-12-11

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

Alexander, C. J.

¶1(concurring in dissent) — I agree with the majority that the trial court did not err in excluding expert testimony on the reliability of eyewitness identification and in determining that there was no prosecutorial misconduct when the prosecutor commented on the defense’s failure to produce a witness. I disagree, however, with its conclusion that the search of Cheatam’s shoes was constitutionally permissible under the fourth amendment to the United States Constitution. As this issue is determinative, I concur in the result Justice Sanders would reach.

¶2I write separately because I disagree with Justice Sanders’ conclusion that the decision in State v. Simpson, 95 Wn.2d 170, 622 P.2d 1199 (1980), was also based on article I, section 7 of the state constitution. As the majority here observes, in Simpsonfive justices determined that the search at issue violated the Fourth Amendment. There was, however, no decision based on the state constitution because one of the five justices in the majority, Chief Justice Utter, expressly stated that it was unnecessary to apply the state constitution once the court determined that the search violated the federal constitution. Id. at 192 (Utter, C.J., concurring). Nevertheless, Simpson’s Fourth Amendment holding is binding under the doctrine of stare decisis unless this court determines that it is incorrect or harmful. State v. Robbins, 138 Wn.2d 486, 494, 980 P.2d 725 (1999). The majority fails to demonstrate that Simpsonis incorrect or harmful. Therefore, I dissent.

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