State v. Wickham

*1355OPINION

MATTHEWS, Chief Justice.

Phillip J. Wickham was tried for manslaughter and third-degree assault. In an in limine ruling, the trial court decided that if Wickham testified the state could impeach him with evidence of prior convictions. Wickham chose not to testify and was convicted. On appeal, the court of appeals held that the ruling was reviewable even though Wickham did not testify, but reserved making a final disposition pending remand for further proceedings in the trial court.

We granted the state's petition for hearing to decide whether criminal defendants must testify to preserve…