Q: Is it violation of due process rights for a magistrate to allow an officer/"witness" a break to get off the stand and

A: A magistrate is given a lot of discretion in situations like the one you've described. It sounds like the officer was probably newer and unfamiliar with the issue. Almost any police officer who is a sworn peace officer and has completed a law enforcement academy would be qualified to testify pursuant to Proposition 115. This is a basic foundational issue. When it comes to allowing a witness to take a break or controlling the method and flow of examination of witnesses, a judge is typically allowed to do what they want unless it is a blatant abuse of discretion. For example, if the witness was testifying concerning a critical factual issue, like whether he was able to identify the defendant in the case, it is very unlikely the judge would have allowed him to take a break to confer with a supervisor at that juncture. A good defense attorney can use the fact that the witness had to take a break before answering such a basic question to undermine the credibility of that witness.

A: A Bench Officer has a lot of discretion concerning a recess.

However, no one on this list has all the info, and most people asking questions on the internet are naturally not the best historians.

If you are in trial, that is a question you should ask your attorney.

What did s/he say?

A: It is difficult to provide a definitive answer without knowing more about the specific circumstances of the case and the applicable laws and regulations in the relevant jurisdiction. However, in general, allowing a witness to take a break during cross-examination to make a phone call to their supervisor may not necessarily be a violation of due process rights.

Due process requires that a person be given a fair and impartial hearing before a neutral decision maker, and that the person be given notice of the charges against them and an opportunity to be heard. However, due process does not necessarily require that a witness be prevented from taking a break during cross-examination.

If the magistrate allowed the officer/witness to take a break to make a phone call to confirm their certification, and both parties had an opportunity to question the witness about their certification and the circumstances surrounding the phone call, then it may not necessarily be a violation of due process. However, if the magistrate's decision to allow the break unfairly prejudiced one of the parties or denied them an opportunity to fully cross-examine the witness, then it may be a violation of due process rights.