The certiorari stage is typically too early to write about a case, but White v. Louisiana has already attracted the attention of Evidence professors, and rightly so. State v. White, 243 So.3d 12 (2018), cert. pending, No. 18-8862.

Background

Roderick White was indicted in Louisiana for murder in the January 2015 shooting of NaQuian Robinson. At trial, the principal evidence against White was a videotaped statement given a week after the shooting at the police station by Brandon Coleman. In the statement, Coleman told the police that he, White and “BJ” were driving around Baton Rouge when White spotted Robinson selling CDs. White got out of the car and approached Robinson. Parked nearby, Coleman heard gun shots and saw White firing in Robinson’s direction. White then ran back to the car, and Coleman drove off. Later, White admonished Coleman not to talk to the police.