14 August 2004

Sane Discovery Now Required in North Carolina

As of Oct. 1, the state's local district attorneys will be required to open their investigative files in felony cases to defense lawyers if requested before trial. The law says DAs would provide in part police investigator notes, defendant and witness statements, test results and a list of probable witnesses for the trial.

Defense attorneys, also upon request, also would have to provide the state with witness lists and on what ground they plan to defend their client - whether on an alibi or by insanity, intoxication or self-defense, for example.
Wow. How do we get that here in Virginia?

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