missing witness instruction in Indiana

7 Indiana opinions name it 2 courts 1982–2007 0 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by Indiana courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (3)

Case	Followed	Cited
Metcalf v. Stategreen ind · 1983 · cited in 3 Indiana opinions naming this issue, 1990–1997 2 sentences 1997Metcalf v. State, 451 N.E.2d 321, 324 (Ind.1983). 1995A missing witness instruction is appropriate "only when a witness is available to be produced by one party but not by the other." Metcalf v. State (1983), Ind., 451 N.E.2d 321, 324 ; Snow, 560 N.E.2d at 73 .	1	3
Gossmeyer v. Stategreen ind · 1985 · cited in 3 Indiana opinions naming this issue, 1990–1997 2 sentences 1997Gossmeyer v. State, 482 N.E.2d 239, 243 (Ind.1985). 1995Gossmeyer v. State (1985), Ind., 482 N.E.2d 239, 243 ; Snow v. State (1990), Ind.App., 560 N.E.2d 69, 72 , trans. denied.	1	3
Taylor v. Stategreen ind · 1997 · cited in 1 Indiana opinions naming this issue, 2007–2007 1 sentence 2007See Taylor v. State, 676 N.E.2d 1044, 1046 (Ind.1997) (finding that the defendant was not entitled to a missing witness instruction where the evidence did not show that the State’s chief investigator of the case was unavailable to the defendant).	1	1

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

Case	Negative	Cited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in Indiana. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (11)

Case	Cited	Years
Snow v. State green indctapp · 1990 2 sentences 2007Snow, 560 N.E.2d at 72-73 . 1995A missing witness instruction is appropriate "only when a witness is available to be produced by one party but not by the other." Metcalf v. State (1983), Ind., 451 N.E.2d 321, 324 ; Snow, 560 N.E.2d at 73 .	2	1995–2007
Bruce v. State green ind · 1978 2 sentences 1990Metcalf v. State (1983), Ind., 451 N.E.2d 321 ; Bruce v. State (1978), 268 Ind. 180 , 3 875 N.E.2d 1042 ; cert. denied, 489 U.S. 988 , 99 S.Ct. 586 , 58 L.Ed.2d 662 . 1983Bruce v. State, (1978) 268 Ind. 180 , 375 N.E.2d 1042 , cert. denied 439 U.S. 988 , 99 S.Ct. 586 , 58 L.Ed.2d 662 ; Banks v. State, (1976) 265 Ind. 71 , 351 N.E.2d 4 , cert. denied (1977) 429 U.S. 1077 , 97 S.Ct. 821 , 50 L.Ed.2d 797 .	2	1983–1990
Nicholas v. Tennessee Department of Employment Security green scotus · 1978 2 sentences 1990Metcalf v. State (1983), Ind., 451 N.E.2d 321 ; Bruce v. State (1978), 268 Ind. 180 , 3 875 N.E.2d 1042 ; cert. denied, 489 U.S. 988 , 99 S.Ct. 586 , 58 L.Ed.2d 662 . 1983Bruce v. State, (1978) 268 Ind. 180 , 375 N.E.2d 1042 , cert. denied 439 U.S. 988 , 99 S.Ct. 586 , 58 L.Ed.2d 662 ; Banks v. State, (1976) 265 Ind. 71 , 351 N.E.2d 4 , cert. denied (1977) 429 U.S. 1077 , 97 S.Ct. 821 , 50 L.Ed.2d 797 .	2	1983–1990
McMahon v. Pennsylvania Board of Probation & Parole green scotus · 1978 2 sentences 1990Metcalf v. State (1983), Ind., 451 N.E.2d 321 ; Bruce v. State (1978), 268 Ind. 180 , 3 875 N.E.2d 1042 ; cert. denied, 489 U.S. 988 , 99 S.Ct. 586 , 58 L.Ed.2d 662 . 1983Bruce v. State, (1978) 268 Ind. 180 , 375 N.E.2d 1042 , cert. denied 439 U.S. 988 , 99 S.Ct. 586 , 58 L.Ed.2d 662 ; Banks v. State, (1976) 265 Ind. 71 , 351 N.E.2d 4 , cert. denied (1977) 429 U.S. 1077 , 97 S.Ct. 821 , 50 L.Ed.2d 797 .	2	1983–1990
Banks v. State green ind · 1976 2 sentences 1983Bruce v. State, (1978) 268 Ind. 180 , 375 N.E.2d 1042 , cert. denied 439 U.S. 988 , 99 S.Ct. 586 , 58 L.Ed.2d 662 ; Banks v. State, (1976) 265 Ind. 71 , 351 N.E.2d 4 , cert. denied (1977) 429 U.S. 1077 , 97 S.Ct. 821 , 50 L.Ed.2d 797 . 1983Bruce v. State, (1978) 268 Ind. 180 , 375 N.E.2d 1042 , cert. denied 439 U.S. 988 , 99 S.Ct. 586 , 58 L.Ed.2d 662 ; Banks v. State, (1976) 265 Ind. 71 , 351 N.E.2d 4 , cert. denied (1977) 429 U.S. 1077 , 97 S.Ct. 821 , 50 L.Ed.2d 797 .	1	1983–1983
Bynum v. United States green scotus · 1977 1 sentence 1983Bruce v. State, (1978) 268 Ind. 180 , 375 N.E.2d 1042 , cert. denied 439 U.S. 988 , 99 S.Ct. 586 , 58 L.Ed.2d 662 ; Banks v. State, (1976) 265 Ind. 71 , 351 N.E.2d 4 , cert. denied (1977) 429 U.S. 1077 , 97 S.Ct. 821 , 50 L.Ed.2d 797 .	1	1983–1983
Boothe v. Missouri green scotus · 1977 1 sentence 1983Bruce v. State, (1978) 268 Ind. 180 , 375 N.E.2d 1042 , cert. denied 439 U.S. 988 , 99 S.Ct. 586 , 58 L.Ed.2d 662 ; Banks v. State, (1976) 265 Ind. 71 , 351 N.E.2d 4 , cert. denied (1977) 429 U.S. 1077 , 97 S.Ct. 821 , 50 L.Ed.2d 797 .	1	1983–1983
Collins v. United States green scotus · 1978 1 sentence 1983Bruce v. State, (1978) 268 Ind. 180 , 375 N.E.2d 1042 , cert. denied 439 U.S. 988 , 99 S.Ct. 586 , 58 L.Ed.2d 662 ; Banks v. State, (1976) 265 Ind. 71 , 351 N.E.2d 4 , cert. denied (1977) 429 U.S. 1077 , 97 S.Ct. 821 , 50 L.Ed.2d 797 .	1	1983–1983
CAULDWELL, INC. v. Patterson neutral indctapp · 1962 2 sentences 1982Hammonds contend that the trial court erred in refusing to give Indiana Pattern Jury Instruction No. 3.13, which reads as follows: “The unexplained failure of a party to produce a witness within its control may give rise to an inference that had such witness testified, the testimony of such witness would have been unfavorable to that party’s case.” This court held in Cauldwell, Inc. et al v. Patterson, (1961) 133 Ind.App. 138 , 177 N.E.2d 490 , that it is not error to refuse to give a missing witness instruction where such witness was as available to both sides. 1982Hammonds contend that the trial court erred in refusing to give Indiana Pattern Jury Instruction No. 3.13, which reads as follows: “The unexplained failure of a party to produce a witness within its control may give rise to an inference that had such witness testified, the testimony of such witness would have been unfavorable to that party’s case.” This court held in Cauldwell, Inc. et al v. Patterson, (1961) 133 Ind.App. 138 , 177 N.E.2d 490 , that it is not error to refuse to give a missing witness instruction where such witness was as available to both sides.	1	1982–1982
McCulley v. State green ind · 1971 2 sentences 1982McCulley v. State, (1971) 257 Ind. 135 , 272 N.E.2d 613 .” Since the court had granted the State’s motion for nondisclosure, the defense sought a missing witness instruction. 1982McCulley v. State, (1971) 257 Ind. 135 , 272 N.E.2d 613 .” Since the court had granted the State’s motion for nondisclosure, the defense sought a missing witness instruction.	1	1982–1982
Chrysler Corporation v. Alumbaugh green indctapp · 1976 2 sentences 1982More recently, in Chrysler Corporation v. Alumbaugh, (1976) 168 Ind.App. 363 , 342 N.E.2d 908 , we held that the instruction is properly refused when not required by the evidence, or where the witness was available to both sides. 1982More recently, in Chrysler Corporation v. Alumbaugh, (1976) 168 Ind.App. 363 , 342 N.E.2d 908 , we held that the instruction is properly refused when not required by the evidence, or where the witness was available to both sides.	1	1982–1982

Where else courts name it

NY 98 (1980–2026) WA 79 (1968–2026) MA 69 (1986–2026) PA 67 (1978–2026) TN 60 (1977–2024) MI 60 (1983–2026) DC 57 (1968–2022) CT 47 (1984–2024) IL 38 (1985–2026) MD 29 (1977–2021) IN 7 (1982–2007) OH 6 (1977–2026) WV 4 (1987–2026) VA 4 (1976–2024) NJ 4 (1992–2013) WI 3 (1977–2014) ME 3 (1981–2025) IA 2 (1979–2016) SC 2 (2013–2014) NC 2 (2021–2021) CO 2 (1986–1996) VT 2 (1987–2001)

Opinions by the citing court's state. A doctrine retained in one state and abandoned in another shows up here as a year span that stalls.

← Caselaw search · G Cite Topics · Brief Check