People v. Phipps

Mr. PRESIDING JUSTICE MILLS

delivered the opinion of the court:

Can the State appeal an order directing the disclosure of personal files and information about some of the prosecution’s witnesses prior to a trial on the merits?

No.

The trial court held that any witness who invoked his privilege of confidentiality under the mental health statute was barred from testifying in this prosecution.

This is not ripe for appeal. Why not? Let us see.

Defendant was charged with cruelty to persons (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1977, ch. 23, par. 2368), maltreatment of a mentally retarded person (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1977, ch.…