Summary
following our holding in Ricketts and determining that a conviction for possession of barbiturates is not admissible for purposes of impeachment
Summary of this case from State v. WestpointOpinion
[No. 111, September Term, 1981.]
Decided November 23, 1981.
CRIMINAL LAW — Impeachment Of Defendant Through Evidence Of Prior Convictions — Abuse Of Discretion By Trial Judge In Permitting, For Purposes Of Impeachment, The Admission Of The Defendant's Prior Conviction For Possession Of Barbiturates.
Certiorari to the Court of Special Appeals. (Criminal Court of Baltimore, Arabian, J.).
Judgment of the Court of Special Appeals reversed, case remanded to that court with instructions to reverse the judgment of the Criminal Court of Baltimore and remand to that court for a new trial. Costs to be paid by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore.
The matter was submitted to MURPHY, C.J., and SMITH, DIGGES, ELDRIDGE, COLE, DAVIDSON and RODOWSKY, JJ.
Per Curiam. MURPHY, C.J., dissents. SMITH and RODOWSKY, JJ., would not have summarily reversed.
Certiorari was granted to determine whether the Court of Special Appeals erred in holding that there was no abuse of discretion by the trial judge in permitting, for purposes of impeachment, the admission of the petitioner's prior conviction for possession of barbiturates.
For reasons stated in Ricketts v. State, 291 Md. 701, 436 A.2d 906 (1981), the judgment of the Court of Special Appeals is reversed.
Judgment of the Court of Special Appeals reversed, case remanded to that court with instructions to reverse the judgment of the Criminal Court of Baltimore and remand to that court for a new trial.
Costs to be paid by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore.
Chief Judge Murphy dissents for reasons set forth in the dissent in Ricketts.
Judges Smith and Rodowsky would not have summarily reversed, but would have set case for argument.