State Of Louisiana v. Joshua James Willis

Supreme Court of Louisiana
April
28, 2024
Chief Deputy Clerk of Court
For the Court
The Supreme Court of the State of Louisiana
STATE OF LOUISIANA
VS.
JOSHUA JAMES WILLIS
No. 2024-KK-00533
_ _ _ _ _ _
IN RE
: Joshua Willis - Applicant Defendant; Applying For Supervisory Writ, Parish
of Lafayette, 15th Judicial District Court Number(s) 157793, Court of Appeal, Third
Circuit, Number(s) KW 24-00209;
_ _ _ _ _ _
April 28, 2024
Writ application granted. See per curiam.
JDH
JLW
JTG
WJC
JBM
PDG
04/28/2024 "See News Release 020 for any Concurrences and/or Dissents."

SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
No. 2024-KK-00533
STATE OF LOUISIANA
VS.
JOSHUA JAMES WILLIS
On Supervisory Writ to the 15th Judicial District Court, Parish of Lafayette
PER CURIAM
Writ granted. The trial court erred in sustaining the state’s objection to the
defendant’s question about whether the witness has been involved in drug dealing
from prison after the witness initially denied such activities and the defendant was
in possession of jail communications that might be used to impeach the witness.
Confrontation is a fundamental right. U.S. Const. amendment VII; La. Const. Art.
I, section 16. Applicant has shown specific extrinsic evidence that contradicts the
sworn testimony at trial of witness Sylvester. Applicant is entitled to cross -
examine with this evidence to attack the cred ibility of the witness. La. C.E. art.
607(D)(2). Unduly repetitive or cumulative evidence may be regulated by the trial
court in its discretion to conduct an orderly proceeding.
04/28/24