People v. Montgomery

OPINION OF THE COURT

While we affirm this judgment of conviction, we write again to condemn, as forcefully as possible, prosecutorial cross-examination which compels a defendant to state that the police or other witnesses lied in their testimony. In light of the vast number of published judicial decisions criticizing this prosecutorial tactic, it is inconceivable that any prosecutor would be unaware of the impropriety of such conduct. If he is, he fails shamefully in the performance of his public function, as does a superior charged with his training; if he is not, but nevertheless pursues…