State v. Batchelder

This interlocutory appeal brought by the Office of the Defender General raises an issue of first impression involving the trial court’s authority to control discovery in a criminal case. After the State objected to defense counsel’s plan to record a series of depositions on audiotape, the court ordered that the depositions be recorded by stenographic means. Although not a party to the case below, the Office of the Defender General intervened to appeal the order. As defendant is represented by a contract public defender, the Office of Defender General bears financial responsibility for…