Louisiana Revised Statutes 15:502 – A. The court may authorize the following persons to testify by simultaneous transmission through audiovisual equipment, if such technology is available in the courtroom, during any c
Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 15:502
- Civil forfeiture: The loss of ownership of property used to conduct illegal activity.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- person: includes a body of persons, whether incorporated or not. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 1:10
- Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
- Testify: Answer questions in court.
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
A. The court may authorize the following persons to testify by simultaneous transmission through audiovisual equipment, if such technology is available in the courtroom, during any criminal proceeding; juvenile court proceeding; or any family court proceeding which is of a criminal nature, and any civil forfeiture proceeding arising from alleged criminal activity:
(1) Employees of criminalistics laboratories.
(2) Coroners.
(3) Forensic pathologists.
(4) Any other person practicing in the field of knowledge and expertise in the gathering, examination, and analysis of evidence by scientific means.
B. The party seeking to offer testimony as provided in Subsection A of this Section shall, in all cases, except those in juvenile court which are of a noncriminal nature, provide written notice to opposing counsel not less than thirty days prior to the commencement of the proceeding. A party in a case in juvenile court which is of a noncriminal nature seeking to offer testimony as provided in Subsection A of this Section shall provide written notice to opposing counsel not less than three days prior to the commencement of the proceeding.
C. The party seeking to introduce testimony in this manner shall be responsible for coordinating the audiovisual feed into the courtroom. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require court personnel to assist in the preparation or presentation of testimony provided by the provisions of this Section.
D. Nothing in this Section shall be construed as to prohibit the use of a subpoena to compel any such witness to physically appear and testify in person. When the attorney for the defendant, or the defendant acting in his own defense, requests that a subpoena be issued to the person who performed the examination or analysis, the request shall be in writing or shall contain a certification that the attorney or the defendant intends in good faith to conduct the cross-examination.
Acts 2009, No. 272, §1; Acts 2020, No. 39, §1, eff. June 4, 2020.