recognizing that confidentiality of juvenile records “is not absolute” and must yield in some cases
How later courts described this case
- recognizing that confidentiality of juvenile records “is not absolute” and must yield in some cases
- prosecutor may test character witness’s knowledge of defendant’s reputation in the community “by asking whether [he] has heard of particular events, including prior convictions, arrests, and wrongful acts of the defendant”
- case could be “[decided] on the merits without reference to Luce ”
- petition for rehearing/rehearing en banc pending
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
PRYOR, Chief Judge,
concurring:
It may be that the holding in the present case, when compared with our decision in McAdoo v. United States, 515 A.2d 412 (D.C.1986), will cause some confusion. If the alternative is to allow no cross-examination of the character witness at all, then I reluctantly opt to permit the trial court, in the exercise of discretion, to authorize limited inquiry consistent with the majority opinion.