Opinion
NO. 2016 KW 0248
05-02-2016
STATE OF LOUISIANA v. CARL WATSON
In Re: Carl Watson, applying for supervisory writs, 21st Judicial District Court, Parish of Tangipahoa, No. 77927. BEFORE: GUIDRY, HOLDRIDGE, AND CHUTZ, JJ.
WRIT DENIED.
GH
WRC
Guidry, J., concurs. Relator's request for a free copy of the transcript of grand jury witness testimony does not fall within the exceptions to the grand jury secrecy law. See La. Code Crim. P. art. 434. See also State v. Ross, 2013-0175 (La. 3/25/14), 144 So.3d 932, 939; State v. Lacaze, 2012-2131 (La. 6/17/13), 117 So.3d 915, 916 (per curiam). Accordingly, the district court did not abuse its discretion by denying the motion for grand jury testimony. See State v. Trosclair, 443 So.2d 1098, 1102-03 (La. 1983), cert. dismissed, 468 U.S. 1205, 104 S.Ct. 3593, 82 L.Ed.2d 889 (1984). Furthermore, the provisions of 2013 La. Acts No. 250, § 1, are effective for cases billed or indicted on or after January 1, 2014, and shall be given prospective application from its effective date. Moreover, inmates are not entitled to documents where their postconviction claims are time barred or not cognizable on collateral review. See State ex rel. Brown v. State, 2003-2568 (La. 3/26/04), 870 So.2d 976 (per curiam). COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT /s/_________
DEPUTY CLERK OF COURT
FOR THE COURT