HB 873

Abstract

Discovery in criminal cases. Establishes requirements and procedures for discovery by an accused and by the Commonwealth in a criminal case. The bill requires a party requesting discovery to request that the other party voluntarily comply with such request prior to filing any motion before a judge. Upon receiving a negative or unsatisfactory response, or upon the passage of seven days following the receipt of the request without response, the party requesting discovery may file a motion for discovery with the court. The bill details information that is subject to discovery and provides that discovery shall be provided at a reasonable time before trial but that in no case shall it be provided later than (i) 14 days before trial on a misdemeanor in circuit court, (ii) 30 days before trial on a felony or multiple felony counts punishable by confinement in a state correctional facility for an aggregate of 30 years or less, or (iii) 90 days before trial on a felony or multiple felony counts punishable by confinement in a state correctional facility for an aggregate of more than 30 years. The bill also provides a mechanism for redaction of certain personal identifying information and creates a procedure for either party to move the court to enter a protection order with regard to discovery. Finally, the bill grants the court the ability to impose various remedies it deems just if a party fails to comply with any of the requirements. This bill incorporates HB 1153.

Discovery in criminal cases; penalties. Establishesrequirements and procedures for discovery by an accused and by the Commonwealthin a criminal case. The bill requires a party requesting discovery to requestthat the other party voluntarily comply with such request prior to filing anymotion before a judge. Upon receiving a negative or unsatisfactory response, orupon the passage of seven days following the receipt of the request withoutresponse, the party requesting discovery may file a motion for discovery withthe court. The bill details information that is subject to discovery andprovides a mechanism for redaction of certain personal identifying information.The bill also creates a procedure whereby the parties may conduct depositionsof witnesses prior to trial and use statements obtained during such depositionsfor impeachment at trial as a prior inconsistent statement. The bill creates aprocedure for either party to move the court to enter a protection order withregard to discovery and, if granted, the court may order any conditionlimiting, but not preventing, disclosure, so long as the condition is necessaryto the orderly adjudication of the case or to the fair administration ofjustice. Finally, the bill (i) makes it a Class 6 felony for any person towillfully omit or misrepresent evidence or information required to be disclosedto the accused, (ii) makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to willfullyomit or misrepresent any other evidence of information required to bedisclosed, and (iii) grants the court the ability to impose additional remediesit deems just if a party fails to comply with any of the requirements.