In re Issuance of a Summons Compelling an Essential Witness to Appear & Testify

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The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court order, entered after a hearing, summoning William Joseph Wilkie to appear and testify in an out-of-state criminal proceeding in Clay County, Minnesota but reversed and remanded the order summoning Wilkie’s granddaughter, M.M.W., to appear and testify in the same criminal proceeding.In this consolidated appeal, Wilkie and M.M.W. argued that their rights as victims in the criminal proceeding were violated because they were not advised of their right to counsel during the circuit court hearing. The Supreme Court affirmed in part and reversed and remanded in part holding (1) because the proceedings in South Dakota did not implicate S.D. Const. art. VI, section 29, the circuit court had no obligation to advise either Wilkie or M.M.W. of any rights under Marsy’s Law; but (2) while the circuit court did not err in finding that Wilkie failed to present any evidence of hardship for himself in ordering Wilkie to appear and testify in Minnesota, the circuit court failed to make adequate findings on M.M.W.’s claim of hardship. View "In re Issuance of a Summons Compelling an Essential Witness to Appear & Testify" on Justia Law