State v. Bledsoe
Docket: No. 2016-KK-0713
Court: Supreme Court of Louisiana; June 3, 2016; Louisiana; State Supreme Court
The document outlines a judicial opinion regarding the joint trial of defendants Justin Bledsoe and Kevin Green. Under Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure article 61, the district attorney holds complete authority over criminal prosecutions, including decisions on whom and how to prosecute. Article 704 mandates that defendants should be tried jointly unless a severance is necessary for justice. The court highlights a preference for joint trials, supported by Louisiana jurisprudence, as seen in *State v. Bradford*. The author believes the State's application for a joint trial is valid since no "mutually antagonistic" defenses were identified, and the potential Bruton violations had been resolved. However, the trial court did not provide reasons for granting the defendants’ motions for severance, and the appellate panel denied the State’s writ without explanation, creating uncertainty around the severance rationale. The author advocates for the reversal of the lower courts' decisions to allow for a joint trial, citing the submission of various materials, including hearing transcripts and briefs from both parties. Additionally, it notes a previous Bruton issue with another defendant that has since been resolved through elective severance by the State.