Surina v. Buckalew

OPINION

RABINOWITZ, Chief Justice.

The issue presented by these proceedings is whether, in the absence of any authorizing statute on the subject, a promise of immunity by a state prosecutor and court may be used to compel testimony from a witness in a criminal proceeding, despite the witness’s claim of the privilege against self-incrimination. We conclude that under proper circumstances, the testimony so immunized may be compelled.

In regard to the Surina appeal, one Rick Greenwell was charged with the robbery of a gas station, allegedly committed with an unidentified black individual on October…