State v. Cantrell

In State v. Cantrell, 64 Wyo. 132, 186 P.2d 539 (1947), numerous lay witnesses were permitted to testify at trial that, based on their personal observations of the defendant, the defendant was intoxicated. The Court upheld the trial court's admission of the opinions concluding that lay witnesses may testify as to a defendant's intoxication provided the witnesses state the facts on which they base their opinion. 186 P.2d at 546. The decision was based on the general proposition that most adults are sufficiently experienced with people who have been drinking to offer an opinion as to whether a person is, in fact, intoxicated from alcohol based on their personal observations. Id.