### F I LE D U. S . COURT OF AP PE ALS E LEVE NTH CI RCUI T M ar c h 18, 2005 T HOM AS K. KAHN C L E RK [ P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

________________________ N o. 04- 15201

________________________ D . C. D o c k e tN o . 9 6 - 0 0 4 0 0 - CV - SH T H E O D O R E J . D E L I S I , P e titio n e r - A p p e lle e , v ersu s J A M E S V . C R O S B Y , S e c r e ta ry , F lo r id aD e p a r tm e n t o f

C o rr e c tio n s , R e s p o n d e n t- A p p e lla n t.

________________________ A pp ea l fr om the U ni t ed S t at es D i stri ctC ou rt f orthe S outhe rn D i s tr i c tof F l or i da

_________________________ ( M ar c h 18, 2005) B efo re A N D E R S O N , P R Y O R an d H IL L , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P R Y O R , C i rc ui tJudg e: T he i s s ue i n thi s appe a l i s w he the rthe di s tr i c tc our te rr e d w he n i tgr a nt e d a2

wr i to f h ab e a s c o rp u s o n th e g r o u n d th a tth e s t a t e tr i a l c o u r tv i o l a t e d T h e o d o r e De L is i’s r ig h ts , u n d e rth e C o n f r o n ta tio n a n d C o m p u ls o ry P r o c e s s C lau s e s o f th e S ix th A m endm ent , by re fusi ng t o p erm i tD e L i si t o cross -e xam i ne Ja m es W hi t e, the st ar w i tne s s f orthe gove rnm e nt , aboutW hi t e ’ s ba nk r e c or ds a nd t a x r e turns a nd by q u a s h in g as u b p o e n af

o rW h ite ’s ta x r e tu rn s . T h e p r im a ry d e f e n s e s tr a te g y w a s to a tt a c k W hi t e ’ s c r e di bi l i ty on s e ve r a l gr ounds , i nc l udi ng hi s une xpl a i ne d, s ubs t a nt i a l , a nd pot e nt i a l l y i l l e ga l i nc om e . T o tha te nd, D e L i s i e l i c i t e d abunda nt e v id e n c e th a t W h ite w a s ac a r e e rc r im in a l w h o liv e d as u s p ic io u s ly la v is h lif e s ty le a n d h a d r e c e iv e d le n ie n t tr e a tm e n t b y th e g o v e rn m e n t. T h e ju ry e v e n h e a r d W h ite i nv ok e hi s pri vi l ege a gai nstse l f- i ncri m i nat i on i n res po nse t o a qu es t i on abou tt ax fr aud, and i n h i s c l osi ng ar gu m entD eL i si ’ s c ou nsel re m i nd ed the j ury abo utthat event . B ec ause any e rr or i n l i m i t i ng the cr oss- exam i nat i on of W hi t e abo utthe t ax r e turns a nd ba nk r e c or ds w a s ha rm l e s s a nd qua s hi ng the s ubpoe naw a s not m a te r ia l, w e r e v e r s e th e g r a n t o f h ab e a s r e lie f

b y th e d is tr ic t c o u r t. I . B AC KG RO UN D T o ex p l ai n th e co n t ex to f th i s ap p eal , w e w i l l rev i ew th ree m att ers. T h e fi rst m att eri s the event s l ea di ng t o the cr i m i nal char ges a gai nstD e L i si . W e w i l l then re vi ew the proceedi ng s i n the st at e c ou rt s. F i nal l y, w e w i l l re vi ew the habeas pr oc e e di ngs i n the di s tr i c tc our tf r om w hi c h thi s appe a l w a s t a ke n.3 A . T he E ve nt s L eadi ngto the Cri m i na l Cha rges J a m e s W hi t e , ac onvi c t e d f e l on, w orke d a s ac onf

i de nt i a l i nf

orm a ntf orthe F l ori da D epartm entof L aw E nforcement (F D L E ). O n Jun e 17, 19 88 , W hi t e m et w i th D e L i s i a nd hi s br othe r , R i c ha r d, t o di s c us s i m por t i ng m a r i j ua naf r om C o l o m b i a fo r l at er d i stri b u t i o n i n N ew Y o rkb y R i ch ard . A tth atm eet i n g , D e L i si st at ed that“ he di dn ’ tw antt o d o i tor . . . be i nv ol ved i n i t . ” W hi t e m etw i th R i char d and D e L i si agai n o n Jul y 7, 19 88 , atthe aut om ob i l e pai ntand b od y s ho p o w ned by the D e L i s i f

a m i l y , t o di s c us s i m por t i ng m a r i j ua na , butD e L i s i di d not p a r tic ip a te in th a t p a r t o f th e c o n v e r s a tio n . O n J u ly 1 9 , 1 9 8 8 , th e F D L E a rr a n g e dam e e tin g b e tw e e n R ic h a r d a n d W h ite a tthe P om pa no A i rC e nt e r . T he a ge ntw ho m oni t or e d the m e e t i ng vi s ua l l y a nd w i th e l e c tr oni c a udi o s urve i l l a nc e t e s t i f i e d tha ttw o pe r s ons , ne i the rof w hom the a ge ntc oul d i de nt i f

y a s D e L i s i , pi c ke d up W hi t e a nd dr ove a w a y . A f t e rl os i ng el ectro n i c co n t actw i th an d si g h to f th e car, th e ag en tw en tt o th e D e L i si s’ a ut om ot i ve s hop. T he a ge ntdi d nots e e the c a rorW hi t e a tthe a ut om ot i ve s hop, w a i t e d f orappr oxi m a t e l y one m i nut e , a nd r e turne d t o the A i rC e nt e r , w he r e he f ound W hi t e w a i t i ng. T he a ge ntt e s t i f i e d tha t , ba s e d on hi s obs e rva t i ons a nd a de br i e f i ng of W hi t e , the a ge ntdi d notbe l i e ve tha tW hi t e w e ntt o the a ut om ot i ve s h o p th a t d a y .4

W hi t e t es t i fi ed thathe w as pi cked up atthe A i r C ent erby R i char d, and that D e L i s i w a s noti n the c a r . W hi t e f ur the rt e s t i f

i e d tha tR i c ha r d dr ove hi m t o the s hop, w he r e D e L i s i w a s w a i t i ng a nd ga ve W hi t e am ap of C ol om bi at o s how W hi t e w he r e t o pi c k up the m a r i j ua na . I ti s undi s put e d tha tthe m ap W hi t e ga ve th e a g e n t h a d D e L is i’s f in g e rp r in ts o n it. B . T h e P ro ceed i n gs i n th e S ta te C o u rt s I n la te 1 9 8 8 , D e L is i w a s c h a r g e d b y th e S ta te o f F lo r id aw ith tr a f

f ic k in g in e xc e s s of 100 pounds of

m a r i j ua na , c ons pi r a c y t o tr a f f i c i n e xc e s s of

100 pounds of m a r i j ua na , a nd avi ol a t i on of the F l or i daR a c ke t e e r i ng I nf l ue nc e d a nd C orrupt O rg an i zat i o n s A ct(R IC O ). R i ch ard an d an asso ci at e, T erry Jo h n so n , w ere al so c ha r ge d w i th thos e c r i m e s . A f t e rthe s t a t e w a s unabl e t o l oc a t e J ohns on, aj oi nt tr ia l w a s s c h e d u le d f

o rth e D e L is i b r o th e r s . O n A ugus t31, 1989, m or e tha n f ourm onths a f

t e rthe de a dl i ne f

orthe c om pl e t i on of

di s c ove ry , the pr os e c ut i on r e c e i ve d adi s c ove ry r e s pons e w i th 390 pa ge s of de f e ns e e xhi bi t s tha tc ons i s t e d pr i m a r i l y of W hi t e ’ s pe r s ona l ba nk re cords. A l so af

t erthe deadl i ne, D e L i si se rved a s ub po ena f or the i ncom e t ax re turns of bo th W hi t e a nd hi s w i fe , S hel l ey . A ft era pre -tri al hear i ng on S ept em ber 2 0 , 1 9 8 9 , th e c o u r t f

o u n d th a t th e s e u n tim e ly f ilin g s b y D e L is i v io la te d b o th F l or i dadi s c ove ry rul e s a nd the pr e tr i a l or de r , a nd the c our tgr a nt e d m ot i ons by the5

st at e t o excl ud e the bank re cords a nd qu as h the subp oena for the W hi t es ’ t ax r e turns . T he c our ta l s o ba s e d i t s or de ri n pa r ton e rr one ous i nf orm a t i on aboutthe b a n kr e c o r d s a n d S h e lle y W h ite ’s s ta tu s a s aw itn e s s , w h ic h th e c o u r t r e c e iv e d in a n e x p a r te c o m m u n ic a tio n w ith th e p r o s e c u tio n . A ttr i a l , D e L i s i ’ s de f

e ns e s tr a t e gy w a s t o de s tr oy W hi t e ’ s c r e di bi l i ty on s e ve r a l f r ont s , be c a us e W hi t e ’ s t e s t i m ony w a s the l i nc hpi n of the c a s e f

orthe g o v e rn m e n t. D e L is i a r g u e d th a t W h ite ’s te s tim o n y w a s u n r e liab le b e c a u s e W h ite w a s ac a r e e rc r im in a l s till e n g a g e d in s u s p ic io u s a c tiv itie s a n d W h ite h a d p o s s ib ly g iv e n f a ls e te s tim o n y in a n o th e rp r o c e e d in g . D e L is i a r g u e d th a t b e c a u s e W h ite had rece i ved l eni enttre atm entfr om the go vernm entand w as atri sk of further pr os e c ut i on a nd f

or f e i tur e of a s s e t s , W hi t e ha d a n i nc e nt i ve t o gi ve f a l s e t e s t i m ony f a vor abl e t o the gove rnm e nt . D e L i s i a l s o c ont e nde d tha tW hi t e ha d br a i n da m a ge f r o m a n a c c id e n t a n d d ru g u s e , a n d W h ite ’s a lle g e d m e n ta l im p a irm e n t m a d e h is te s tim o n y u n r e liab le . D ur i ng hi s c r os s - e xa m i na t i on of W hi t e , D e L i s i e l i c i t e d s e ve r a l a dm i s s i ons t o s uppor tD e L i s i ’ s a r gum e nttha tW hi t e l a c ke d c r e di bi l i ty a nd ha d r e a s on t o be bi a s e d i n f

a vorof the pr os e c ut i on. W hi t e a dm i tt e d tha the ha d be e n r e l e a s e d f r om j a i l w he n he be ga n w orki ng a s a n i nf orm a nt , a nd hi s s e nt e nc e w a s r e duc e d f r om f i ve y e a r s t o f

ourm onths . W hi t e a dm i tt e d tha the no l onge rf a c e d s t a t e w i de6

i nd i ctm entw hen h e a gree d t o w ork as a n i nform ant . W hi t e c on ce ded thathe had b e e n a c q u itte d f

o rac o c a in e c h a r g e o n ate c h n ic a lity , h e u s e d c o c a in e w h ile w orki ng a s a n i nf

orm a nt , a nd he s m uggl e d m a r i j ua naon a tl e a s tthi r ty oc c a s i ons f o rw h ic h h e w a s n o t p r o s e c u te d . W h ite u n d e r s to o d th a t h is a s s e ts w e r e s u b je c t to forf ei ture i f he w as conv i ct ed of drug sm ug gl i ng , and W hi t e a dm i tt ed thathe had t a ke n pr e c a ut i ons a ga i ns tf or f e i tur e by f

orm i ng a n of

f - s hor e c orpor a t i on i n the C a y m a n I s la n d s . D e L i si al so att em pt ed t o p rove, du ri ng hi s c ross -e xam i nat i on of W hi t e, that W hi t e w a s s t i l l i nvol ve d i n i l l e ga l a c t i vi t i e s a nd pe rhaps ha d gi ve n f a l s e t e s t i m ony i n an earl i ertri al . D e L i si es t abl i shed that , al tho ug h W hi t e had t es t i fi ed ata tri al fi ve ye ar s e ar l i ert o o w ni ng on l y $20 , 00 0 i n l i qu i d ass et s, and si nce then h ad an a nnua l i nc om e of

about$50, 000, W hi t e l i ve d al a vi s h l i f e s ty l e i nc ons i s t e ntw i th a m i dd l e- cl as s i ncom e. W hi t e had spentatl ea st$4 5, 00 0 atE as tC oastA vi on i cs d u r in g th e th r e e y e a r s b e f o r e tr ia l, a n d s p e n t ap p r o x im a te ly $ 5 ,0 0 0 p e ry e a rto m a in ta in h is g u a r d d o g s . W h ite c o n c e d e d th a t h e o w n e d a$ 5 0 0 ,0 0 0 r a n c h , a $240, 000 pl a ne , a$223, 000 m ot orhom e , a$43, 000 J a gua r , a$15, 000 di a m ondstud ded R ol ex w at ch thathe w ore a ttri al , and a 5. 25 ca ra tdi am on d p i nk y r i ng that he a l s o w or e a ttr i a l . F ore m pha s i s , D e L i s i r e qui r e d W hi t e t o w r i t e the va l ue of each asseto n a b o ard th atrest ed o n an easel n ear th e j u ry. T h e t o t al v al u e o f th o se7

asset s ex ceed ed o n e m i l l i o n d o l l ars. T he on l y l i m i t at i on pl ac ed on D e L i si ’ s s tra t egy t o d i sc re di tW hi t e pert ai ned to th e b a n kr e c o r d s a n d ta x r e tu rn s , b u t D e L is i s till s c o r e d p o in ts r e g a r d in g b o th W hi t e ’ s ba nk r e c or ds a nd t a xe s . O n c r os s - e xa m i na t i on, W hi t e a dm i tt e d tha tone re as on he cr ea t ed hi s c orpo ra t i on i n the C ay m an Is l ands w as t o avo i d p ay i ng t axes o n i l l eg al i n co m e. A ft er D e L i si ask ed w h eth er W h i t e h ad fi l ed fal se t ax retu rn s, the tr i a l c our ti nf

orm e d W hi t e tha the c oul d c hoos e nott o a ns w e ri f , by a ns w e r i ng, h e m ig h t in c r im in a te h im s e lf . W h ite th e n in v o k e d , in th e p r e s e n c e o f th e ju ry , h is r i ghtnott o i nc r i m i na t e hi m s e l f . D e L i s i a r gue d i n c l os i ng tha tW hi t e ’ s i nvoc a t i on of the pri vi l ege r egar di ng po ss i bl e t ax fr aud evi denced thathi s t es t i m on y w as i ncre di bl e. D e L i si al so ar gu ed i n cl osi ng thatW hi t e had m ore bank accounts than th e p r e s id e n t o f

e a c h b a n kw h e r e W h ite ’s f u n d s w e r e d e p o s ite d . D e L i s i ’ s s tr a t e gy f

a i l e d. D e L i s i w a s c onvi c t e d on a l l thr e e c ha r ge s a nd s e nt e nc e d t o thi r ty - y e a rc ons e c ut i ve s e nt e nc e s on e a c h c ha r ge . O n A ugus t7, 1991, th e F lo rid a S ec o n d D istrict C o u rt o f A p p ea ls af firm ed o n d irec t ap p ea l D e L isi’ s R I C O a n d tr a f

f ic k in g c o n v ic tio n s , b u t o v e rtu rn e d th e c o n v ic tio n f o rc o n s p ir a c y . D e L is i v . S ta te , 5 8 5 S o . 2 d 9 6 3 ( F la . 2 d D is t. C t. A p p . 1 9 9 1 ) . T h e c o u r t h e ld th a t, al tho ug h D e L i si ’ s f

i ng erpri nt s on the m ap, com bi ned w i th W hi t e’ s t es t i m on y that D e L i s i ga ve hi m the m ap, s uppor t e d the R I C O a nd tr a f f i c ki ng c onvi c t i ons , the8

f i nge rpr i nt s di d nots uppor tac onvi c t i on f orc ons pi r a c y . I d. a t964- 65. C . Fe de r al

H abe as P r oc e e di ngs On F e b ru a ry 2 0 , 1 9 9 6 , De L i s i f i l e d af e d e r a l h ab e a s p e t i t i o n th a ts t a t e d two gr ounds f

orr e l i e f: ( 1) the tr i a l c our tvi ol a t e d D e L i s i ’ s r i ght s unde rthe C onf r ont a t i on C l a us e of

the S i xth A m e ndm e ntby e xc l udi ng e vi de nc e of the W h ite s ’ b a n ks ta te m e n ts a n d p r o h ib itin g D e L is i f r o m c r o s s - e x a m in in g W h ite aboutW hi t e ’ s t a x r e turns , a nd ( 2) the tr i a l c our tvi ol a t e d D e L i s i ’ s r i ght s unde rthe C om pu l soryP roce ss C l ause of the S i xth A m endm entby qu as hi ng the subp oenas f orthe W hi t e s ’ t a x r e turns . T he di s tr i c tc ourtde ni e d D e L i s i ’ s pe t i t i on f orl a c k of exhaust i on , and D e L i si appeal ed. T he st at e c on ce ded o n app ea l thatthe di stri ct c o u r t e rr e d , b u t a r g u e d th a t th e p e titio n s h o u ld b e d is m is s e d b e c a u s e D e L is i w a s in p r o c e d u r a l d e f

a u lt. T h is C o u r t r e v e r s e d a n d r e m a n d e d f o rth e d is tr ic t c o u r t to a ddr e s s the i s s ue of

pr oc e dur a l de f

a ul t . O n r e m a nd, the di s tr i c tc our tf ound tha tthe c la im s w e r e p r o c e d u r a lly b a rr e d . D e L isi ap p ea led ag ain . T h is C o u rt re v er se d an d h eld th at D e L isi’ s co n fro n t at i o n an d co m p u l so ry p ro cess cl ai m s w ere n o tp ro ced u ral l y b arred b ecau se th e s ta te ap p e lla te c o u r t d id n o t d e c la r e th a t its ju d g m e n t r e s te d o n as ta te pr oc e dur a l ba r . O n r e m a nd, the m a gi s tr a t e j udge he l d a n e vi de nt i a ry he a r i ng r e ga r di ng both W hi t e ’ s ba nk s t a t e m e nt s a nd the e rr orof the tr i a l c our ti n s t a t i ng9

th a t S h e lle y W h ite w a s n o t aw itn e s s in th e o r d e re x c lu d in g th e b a n ks ta te m e n ts . A tthe e vi de nt i a ry he a r i ng, D e L i s i r e vi s e d hi s a r gum e ntaboutthe ba nk r e c or ds a nd a dm i tt e d tha tthe r e c or ds s how e d f a rl e s s que s t i onabl e i nc om e tha n he ha d c ont e nde d be f

or e the tr i a l . A tthe pr e - tr i a l he a r i ng, D e L i s i a s s e r t e d tha tthe bank st at em ent s proved thatW hi t e deposi t ed betw ee n fou r m i l l i on and fi ft ee n m i l l i o n d o l l a r s i n th e b a n ka c c o u n t s . Atth e e v i d e n t i a ry h e a r i n g t e n y e a r s l a t e r , De L i si conceded thathi s e ar l i erca l cul at i on w as erroneou s bec ause he had m i sr ea d in te rn a l b a n ktr a c k in g n u m b e r s o n th e s ta te m e n ts a s th e a m o u n t o f th e a s s e ts in thos e a c c ount s . A tthe e vi de nt i a ry he a r i ng, D e L i s i a dm i tt e d tha tthe ba nk r e c or ds evi denced thatW hi t e had depo si t ed, atm ost , $7 50 , 00 0 i nt o the ac coun tbetw ee n 1984 a nd 1988. D e L i s i ’ s f i na nc i a l e xpe r ta l s o a dm i tt e d, a tthe e vi de nt i a ry he a r i ng, tha tthe $750, 000 m i ghti nc l ude as i gni f i c a nta m ountof

doubl e c ount i ng, a nd the e x p e r t n e e d e d o th e rd o c u m e n ts h e d id n o t p o s s e s s to a rr iv e a t a n a c c u r a te es t i m at i on . D e L i si ’ s f

i nanci al expertal so conceded thatW hi t e’ s netw orth m ay h av e in cr ea se d fr o m 1 9 8 2 to 1 9 8 9 b y a s littl e a s $ 6 3 ,0 0 0 , co n sisten t w ith W h it e’s te s tim o n y a t tr ia l. Af t e rth e e v i d e n t i a ry h e a r i n g , th e m a g i s tr a t e j u d g e r e c o m m e n d e d th a tDe L isi’ s h ab ea s p etit io n b e g ra n ted . T h e d istrict co u rt ad o p ted th e m ag istrate ju d g e’s r e por ta nd r e c om m e nda t i on a nd gr a nt e d D e L i s i ’ s habe a s pe t i t i on. T he s t a t e f i l e d a10

m o tio n f o rs ta y , w h ic h th e d is tr ic t c o u r t d e n ie d o n O c to b e r1 2 , 2 0 0 4 . T h e s ta te im m e d ia te ly f

ile d an o tic e o f

ap p e a l a n d a n e m e r g e n c y m o tio n f o rs ta y . W e ent er ed a t em po ra ryst ay , and u po n l ett erbri ef s f rom bo th p art i es , st ay ed the order o f th e d is tr ic t c o u r t p e n d in g ap p e a l. I I . STA N D A R D O F R EVI EW B e c a us e thi s habe a s pe t i t i on w a s f i l e d be f or e A pr i l 24, 1996, the e f f e c t i ve d a te o f th e A n tite rr o r is m a n d E f f e c tiv e D e a th P e n a lty A c t, th a t A c t d o e s n o t ap p ly . T h o m p s o n v . H a le y , 2 5 5 F .3 d 1 2 9 2 , 1 2 9 5 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 1 ) . W e ap p ly s e p a r a te s ta n d a r d s f

o rr e v ie w in g th e d e te rm in a tio n s o f th e s ta te c o u r ts a n d th e d is tr ic t c o u r t. W e pre sum e the fa ctual fi nd i ng s of the st at e c ou rtar e c orre cti f r ea sonabl y bas ed o n th e r e c o r d , a n d w e r e v ie w th e c o n c lu s io n s o f la w o f th e s ta te c o u r t d e n o v o . I d . W e r evi ew the fi nd i ng s of f ac tof the di stri ctcourtfor c l ea r e rr or, and the l egal concl usi on s of the di stri ctcourtde no vo . Id. A det erm i nat i on of the harm caused by erroneou s e vi dent i ary dec i si on s i n a cr i m i nal ca se i s aconcl usi on of l aw . L ac y v. G ar di no , 79 1 F . 2d 98 0, 98 6 (1stC i r. 19 86 ). I I I . DI S CUS S I ON F l ori da m akes tw o argum ent s on app ea l . F i rs t , F l ori da ar gu es thatthe tri al c o u r t d id n o t v io la te D e L is i’s r ig h ts , u n d e rth e C o n f r o n ta tio n C lau s e o f

th e S ix th A m e ndm e nt , w he n the c our tr e f us e d t o a l l ow D e L i s i t o us e W hi t e ’ s ba nk r e c or ds11

t o cross -e xam i ne W hi t e, and any vi ol at i on of the C on fr on t at i on C l ause w as ha rm l e s s w he n the c ourtpe rm i tt e d W hi t e t o a s s e r thi s F i f th A m e ndm e ntpr i vi l e ge i n r e s pons e t o que s t i ons aboutf i l i ng f a l s e i nc om e t a x r e turns . S e c ond, F l or i da ar gu es thatthe tri al courtdi d n otvi ol at e D e L i si ’ s r i gh t s, un der the C om pu l sory P ro ce ss C lau se o f th e S ix th A m en d m en t, w h en th e c o u rt q u as h ed D e L isi’ s subp oena for W hi t e’ s i ncom e t ax re turns, because the excl ud ed t ax re turns w er e notm a t e r i a l . W e c ons i de re a c h a r gum e nti n turn. A . T h e T ri a l C o u rt D i d N o t V i o la te D e L isi ’s C o n

f ro n ta t i o n R i

g h t s. A lim ita tio n o n c r o s s - e x a m in a tio n c a n v io la te th e S ix th A m e n d m e n t r ig h t to c onf r ont a t i on i f

i tpr e ve nt s the de f

e nda ntf r om s how i ng tha taw i tne s s i s bi a s e d: [A ] cri m i n al d efen d an tst at es a v i o l at i o n o f th e C o n fro n tat i o n C l au se b y sh o w i n g th at h e w as p ro h i b i t ed fro m en g ag in g in o th erw i se appr o p ri at e c ross -e xam i nat i on desi gn ed t o sho w a prot otypi ca l form of bi as on the partof the w i tness , and there by “ t o exp ose t o the j ury the fa ct s f

rom w hi ch j urors . . . coul d app ropri at el y dra w i nfer ence s re l at i ng t o the re l i abi l i ty of the w i tness . ” D e l a w a r e v. V a n A r s da l l , 475 U . S . 673, 680, 106 S . C t . 1431, 1436 ( 1986) . T he d is c r e tio n o f

atr ia l ju d g e to lim it c r o s s - e x a m in a tio n is m o r e n a rr o w ly c ir c u m s c r ib e d w h e n th e w itn e s s is v ita l to th e c a s e p r e s e n te d b y th e g o v e rn m e n t:

“ w h ere th e w i tn ess so u g h tt o b e cro ss-ex am i n ed i s th e g o v ern m en t ’ s ‘ st ar’ w i tn ess, p r o v id in g a n e s s e n tia l lin kin th e p r o s e c u tio n ’s c a s e , th e im p o r ta n c e o f f u ll cr oss- exam i nat i on t o d i sc l ose possi bl e bi as i s nec es sa ri l y i ncre as ed. ” U ni t ed S t at es12

v . L a n k f o r d , 9 5 5 F .2 d 1 5 4 5 , 1 5 4 8 ( 1 1 th C ir . 1 9 9 2 ) . N o t e v e ry lim ita tio n o n c r o s s - e x a m in a tio n v io la te s th e C o n f r o n ta tio n C lau s e .

“ [T ] he S i xth A m endm entdo es no tre qu i re un l i m i t ed i nq ui ryi nt o the po t ent i al bi as of aw i tne s s . A s l ong a s s uf f i c i e nti nf orm a t i on i s e l i c i t e d f

r om the w i tne s s f

r om w h ic h th e ju ry c a n a d e q u a te ly a s s e s s p o s s ib le m o tiv e o rb ia s , th e S ix th A m e ndm e nti s s a t i s f

i e d. ” I d. a t1549 n. 10 ( i nt e rna l c i t a t i ons a nd quot a t i ons m a rks o m itte d ) . F l ori da cont ends thatthe di stri ctcourterre d w hen i tfoun d thatthe tri al court vi ol at ed D e L i si ’ s r i gh tt o cross -e xam i ne W hi t e, because a ny error of the tri al court w as h ar m less . T h e d istrict co u rt co n clu d ed th at th e trial co u rt v io lated D e L isi’ s r i ght s both by pe rm i tt i ng W hi t e t o i nvoke hi s r i ghtnott o i nc r i m i na t e hi m s e l f a nd b y p r e v e n tin g D e L is i f r o m c r o s s - e x a m in in g W h ite ab o u t h is b a n kr e c o r d s . W e f i r s tc ons i de rthe de c i s i on of the tr i a l c our tt o pe rm i tW hi t e t o i nvoke hi s r i ghtnot t o i nc r i m i na t e hi m s e l f

, a nd the n c ons i de rthe de c i s i on of the tr i a l c our tt o e xc l ude W h i t e’ s b an kreco rd s. 1. W hi t e’ s I nv ocat i on of H i s F i fth A m endm entP ri vi l ege w as H arm l es s E rr or. F lo r id aa r g u e s th a t if

th e tr ia l c o u r t e rr e d b y p e rm ittin g W h ite to in v o k e h is r i ghtnott o i nc r i m i na t e hi m s e l f , a ny e rr orw a s ha rm l e s s . W e a gr e e . A l though the tr i a l c our te rr e d by a l l ow i ng W hi t e t o i nvoke hi s pr i vi l e ge a f t e rW hi t e ’ s pr e vi ous13

w ai ver of thatpri vi l ege, thaterror w as harm l es s bec ause D e L i si el i ci t ed su b st an t i al ev i d en ce t o al l o w th e j u ry t o assess W h i t e’ s cred i b i l i ty. T he tr i a l c our te rr e d by pe rm i tt i ng W hi t e t o a s s e r thi s F i f th A m e ndm e nt pri vi l ege t o ref

ra i n from re spon di ng t o D e L i si ’ s quest i on abou tw hether W hi t e had c om m i tt e d t a x f

r a ud. I n apr e - tr i a l de pos i t i on, W hi t e w a i ve d the pr i vi l e ge w he n he answ er ed the sa m e quest i on . “ A w i tness w ho t es t i fi es atany procee di ng , i nst ea d of a s s e r t i ng hi s F i f

th A m e ndm e ntr i ght s , l os e s the pr i vi l e ge . ” U ni t e d S t a t e s v. W hi t e, 84 6 F . 2d 67 8, 69 0 (11 th C i r. 19 88 ). A lth o u g h th e tr ia l c o u r t e rr e d b y p e rm ittin g W h ite to a s s e r t h is F if th A m e ndm e ntpr i vi l e ge , tha te rr ore nt i t l e s D e L i s i t o habe a s r e l i e f onl y i f the e rr or w a s notha rm l e s s . C hapm a n v. C a l i f orni a , 386 U . S . 18, 22, 87 S . C t . 824, 827 ( 1967) . E rr ori s c ons t i tut i ona l l y ha rm f ul i f “ the e rr orha d s ubs t a nt i a l a nd i nj ur i ous e f f e c to ri n f l u e n c e i n d e t e rmi n i n g th e j u ry ’ s v e r d i c t . ” Ca l i f o rn i av . Ro y , 5 1 9 U . S. 2, 5, 11 7 S . C t . 33 7, 33 8 (19 96 ). B ec ause the erroneou s e xcl usi on of evi dence occurre d “ du ri ng the pres ent at i on of the ca se t o the j ury, [the error c an be] q u a n tita tiv e ly a s s e s s e d in th e c o n te x t o f o th e re v id e n c e p r e s e n te d in o r d e rto de t e rm i ne the e f

f e c ti tha d on the tr i a l . ” B r e c htv. A br a ha m s on, 507 U . S . 619, 629, 1 1 3 S . C t. 1 7 1 0 , 1 7 1 7 ( 1 9 9 3 ) ( in te rn a l c ita tio n s a n d q u o ta tio n m a rk s o m itte d ) . A l tho ug h thi s tri al error i s s ubj ec tt o h arm l es s e rr or re vi ew , tri al errors ar e14

s ubj e c t , on habe a s r e vi e w , t o a n e ve n l e s s e xa c t i ng s t a nda r d tha n tha te m pl oy e d on di r e c tr e vi e w . “ [ W ] he r e aj udge , i n ahabe a s pr oc e e di ng, appl y i ng thi s s t a nda r d of harm l es s e rr or, i s i n g ra ve do ub tas t o the harm l es snes s of a n err or, the habeas pe t i t i one rm us tw i n. ” R oy , 519 U . S . a t5, 117 S . C t . a t338. G r a ve doubtm e a ns th a t, “in th e ju d g e ’s m in d , th e m a tte ris s o e v e n ly b a la n c e d th a t h e f e e ls h im s e lf

in vi r tua l e qui poi s e a s t o the ha rm l e s s ne s s of the e rr or . ” O ’ N e a l v. M c A ni nc h, 513 U .S . 4 3 2 , 4 3 5 , 1 1 5 S . C t. 9 9 2 , 9 9 4 ( 1 9 9 5 ) . W e d o n o t f in d o u r s e lv e s in e q u ip o is e . T he S upr e m e C our tha s e xpl a i ne d tha tw e m us thol i s t i c a l l y e va l ua t e the cro ss-ex am i n at i o n o f th e w i tn ess an d d et erm i n e w h eth er an erro r i n l i m i t i n g cro ssex am i n at i o n w as h arm l ess: W he the rs uc h a n e rr ori s ha rm l e s s i n apa r t i c ul a rc a s e dep en ds upon a h o s t o f fact o rs, al l read i l y accessi b l e t o rev i ew i n g co u rt s. T h ese f a c t o rs i nc l ude the i m por t a nc e of the w i tne s s ’ [ s ] t e s t i m ony i n the pr os e c ut i on’ s c a s e , w he the r the t e s t i m ony w a s c um ul a t i ve, t he pr e s e nc e orabs e nc e of e vi de nc e c orr obor a t i ng orc ontr a di c t i ng the t e s t i m ony of

the w i tne s s on m a t e r i a l poi nt s , the e xt e ntof c r o s s - e x a m in a t i o n o th e rw is e p e rm itte d , a n d , o f c o u r s e , th e o v e r a ll stre ng th o f the prosecut i on ’ s c as e. V an A rs dal l , 47 5 U . S . at68 4, 10 6 S . C t . at14 38 . A l tho ug h W hi t e’ s t es t i m on y w as vi t a l t o the pr os e c ut i on, w a s notc um ul a t i ve , a nd l a c ke d s ubs t a nt i a l c orr obor a t i on, th e lim ita tio n o n D e L is i’s c r o s s - e x a m in a tio n o f W h ite w a s in s u b s ta n tia l. D e L i si co n d u ct ed a search i n g cro ss-ex am i n at i o n o f W h i t e i n w h i ch D e L i si e lic ite d c o p io u s e v id e n c e to im p e a c h W h ite . W h en W h i t e i n v o k ed h i s ri g h tag ai n st15

se l f- i ncri m i nat i on i n the pres ence of the j ury i n res po nse t o a qu es t i on abou tt ax f r a ud, tha ti nvoc a t i on a c tua l l y be ne f i tt e d D e L i s i , a s he r e i t e r a t e d i n hi s c l os i ng ar gu m ent . B ec ause the addi t i on of the t ax re turns t o thi s a l re ady a m pl e e vi dence w o u l d n o th av e su b st an t i al l y ch an g ed th e j u ry’ s v i ew o f W h i t e’ s b i as o r cred i b i l i ty, the e rr orof

the tr i a l c our ti n pe rm i tt i ng W hi t e t o a s s e r thi s F i f th A m e ndm e nt pri vi l ege c anno tbe sa i d t o h ave “ had sub st ant i al and i nj uri ou s e ff ec tor i nfl uence in d e te rm in in g th e ju ry ’s v e r d ic t.” R o y , 5 1 9 U .S . a t 5 , 1 1 7 S . C t. a t 3 3 8 . 2 . T h e T ri al C o u rtD i d N o tV i o l at e th e C o n fro n t at i o n C l au se b y P recl u d i n g C ro ssE x am i n at i o n A b o u tW h i t e’ s B an kR eco rd s. F l ori da nextar gu es thatthe di stri ctcourterre d w hen i tfoun d thatthe tri al c o u r t v io la te d D e L is i’s r ig h ts b y p r e v e n tin g h im f r o m c r o s s - e x a m in in g W h ite aboutW hi t e ’ s ba nk r e c or ds . D e L i s i i nt e nde d t o que s t i on W hi t e abouthi s ba nk r e c o r d s to s h o w th a t W h ite h a d m o r e a s s e ts th a n h e c o u ld le g itim a te ly e x p la in . T he tri al courtdi d n otvi ol at e D e L i si ’ s r i gh t s, because D e L i si show ed, even w ith o u t th e b a n kr e c o r d s , th a t W h ite h a d s u s p ic io u s ly e x te n s iv e a s s e ts . If anythi ng , the excl usi on of the bank re cords s aved D e L i si fr om a pot ent i al em barr as sm ent . B ef

ore the tri al , D e L i si as se rt ed thatthe bank re cords e vi denced thatW hi t e deposi t ed betw ee n fou r m i l l i on and fi ft ee n m i l l i on do l l ar s, bu tt en ye ar s l at er , D e L i si re vi se d h i s e st i m at e dra st i ca l l y dow nw ar d. If the tri al courthad p e rm itte d D e L is i to u s e th e b a n kr e c o r d s , th e g o v e rn m e n t w o u ld h a v e b e e n ab le to16

expo se D e L i si ’ s e ar l i erm i sc al cul at i on s a nd even bo l st erW hi t e’ s dam aged cred i b i l i ty. T h ere i s a st ark co n trastb etw een th e m i n o r l i m i t at i o n o f D e L i si ’ s cro sse xa m i na t i on of

W hi t e a nd the c a t e gor i c a l l i m i t a t i ons c onde m ne d by thi s C our ta nd the S upr e m e C our ti n othe rc a s e s . I n L a nkf or d, the tr i a l j udge di d notpe rm i ta ny e v id e n c e th a t th e c h ild r e n o f th e s ta rw itn e s s o f

th e g o v e rn m e n t w e r e s u b je c t to pend i ng go vernm entprosec ut i on thatm i gh tbe drop ped i f the w i tness t es t i fi ed fa vo rabl y. 95 5 F . 2d at15 48 . In U ni t ed S t at es v. B apt i st a- R od ri gu ez , the tri al co u rtex cl u d ed al l th e ev i d en ce n ecessary fo r sev eral cred i b i l i ty ch al l en g es ag ai n st the st arw i tness of the go vernm ent . 17 F . 3d 13 54 , 13 66 -67 (11 th C i r. 19 94 ). In V an A rs dal l , the tri al court“ proh i bi t ed al l i nq ui ryi nt o the po ss i bi l i ty that[the st ar w i tne s s of

the gove rnm e nt ] w oul d be bi a s e d a s ar e s ul tof the S t a t e ’ s di s m i s s a l of hi s pe ndi ng publ i c drunke nne s s c ha r ge . ” 475 U . S . a t679, 106 S . C t . a t1435 (e m ph as i s a dd ed). In contra st , the tri al courtal l ow ed D e L i si t o con du cta broad i nq ui ryand el i ci tdam agi ng adm i ss i on s f rom W hi t e. B ec ause the j ury w as al l ow ed t o a s s e s s W hi t e ’ s c r e di bi l i ty a nd pos s i bl e m ot i ve s f orbi a s , “ the S i xth A m e ndm e nt [ w a s ] s a tis f

ie d .” L a n k f

o r d , 9 5 5 F .2 d a t 1 5 4 9 n .1 0 . B . D e L is iFai le d to P r ov e His R i ght to C om pul s or y P r oc e s s W

as V i olate d. F lo r id aa r g u e s th a t th e tr ia l c o u r t d id n o t v io la te D e L is i’s r ig h t to17

c o m p u l s o ry p r o c e s s , u n d e rth e S i x th Am e n d m e n t , wh e n th e c o u r tq u a s h e d De L i s i ’ s s ubpoe na s f

orW hi t e ’ s t a x r e turns . W e a ga i n a gr e e . B e c a us e the t a x r e turns w e r e notm a t e r i a l unde rthe de f e r e nt i a l s t a nda r d w e e m pl oy on habe a s r e vi e w , the tri al courtdi d n otvi ol at e D e L i si ’ s r i gh t s w hen i tqu as hed h i s s ub po ena. T o e s t ab l i s h th a tth e tr i a l c o u r tv i o l a t e d h i s r i g h tt o c o m p u l s o ry p r o c e s s , De L i si h ad t o p ro v e th atth e ex cl u d ed t ax retu rn s w ere m at eri al . T ayl o r v . S i n g l et ary, 12 2 F . 3d 13 90 , 13 95 (11th C i r. 19 97 ). D e L i si had t o “ show thatthe evi dence u n a v a ilab le a t tr ia l c o u ld [ h a v e ] r e a s o n ab ly b e [ e n ] ta k e n to p u t th e w h o le c a s e in such a di ff

er entl i gh tas t o u nd erm i ne confi dence i n the verdi ct . ” I d. T hi s s t andard i s m or e r i gor ous tha n the ha rm l e s s e rr ors t a nda r d: “ the c ons t i tut i ona l s t a nda r d f or m a t e r i a l i ty . . . i m pos e s ahi ghe rbur de n on the pe t i t i one rtha n the ha rm l e s s - e rr or s t a nda r d of

B r e c ht. . . . ” T a y l or , 122 F . 3d a t1394; s e e a l s o K y l e s v. W hi t l e y , 514 U .S . 4 1 9 , 4 3 5 - 3 6 , 1 1 5 S . C t. 1 5 5 5 , 1 5 6 6 - 6 7 ( 1 9 9 5 ) . W e ha ve a l r e a dy c onc l ude d tha tthe l i m i t a t i ons on c r os s - e xa m i na t i on r e ga r di ng W hi t e ’ s t a x r e turns a nd ba nk r e c or ds w e r e , a tm os t , ha rm l e s s e rr or , a nd D e L i s i doe s nota r gue tha tthe s ubpoe na e d t a x r e turns w oul d ha ve pr ove d a ny thi ng d if f e r e n t f r o m th e p r e c lu d e d c r o s s - e x a m in a tio n . B e c a u s e D e L is i f a ile d to e s t abl i s h ha rm l e s s e rr or , he ne c e s s a r i l y c a nnotm e e tthe m or e r i gor ous s t a nda r d of m at er i al i ty. D e L i si w as no tent i t l ed t o h abea s r el i ef .18 I V . CONCL US I ON A f te rD e L is i’s f

ie r c e a s s a u lt o n W h ite ’s c r e d ib ility , th e ju ry b e lie v e d W h ite an d co n v icted D e L isi w ith ey es w id e o p en . T h e m in o r lim it atio n o f D e L isi’ s c r os s - e xa m i na t i on of

W hi t e e i the rdi d notvi ol a t e D e L i s i ’ s c ons t i tut i ona l r i ght s or w a s h a rm le s s e rr o r . T h e g r a n t o f h ab e a s c o rp u s b y th e d is tr ic t c o u r t is RE V E RS E D.