Opinion ID: 529311
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Butler's Motion for a Writ of Habeas Corpus Ad Testificandum

Text: 17 Butler claims that the district court abused its discretion by failing to grant his motion for a writ of habeas corpus ad testificandum. By the writ, Butler sought to compel the government to produce Emmanuel Nwolise, who was in prison at the time, to testify on Butler's behalf. Judge Murray originally granted Butler's request, but when the U.S. Marshall's Office stated that the cost of producing Emmanuel would exceed $3,000, Judge Murray refused to waive the costs. Since Butler is indigent and could not pay the costs, Emmanuel did not testify. Butler claims that Emmanuel would have provided testimony which would have demonstrated that his actions were not supervised or organized by Butler. 18 District courts are empowered by 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2241(c)(5) to issue the writ of habeas corpus ad testificandum to order a prisoner brought into court to give testimony. Rule 17(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure authorizes district courts to compel the government to bear the costs of producing witnesses if the defendant is financially unable to bear those costs. Although Butler's motion sought the issuance of a writ, his real challenge involves the court's denial of his request to have Emmanuel produced at government expense. Thus the district court's decision must be analyzed under Rule 17(b). 19 While a denial of a Rule 17(b) motion, where unjustified, may violate a defendant's right of compulsory process, such motions are committed to the trial court's sound discretion. United States v. Jackson, 757 F.2d, at 1492. In this circuit, a trial judge's discretion to deny a rule 17(b) motion made after the beginning of trial is comparable to his discretion in ruling on a motion for a continuance to secure a witness during trial. Id. Thus a trial court acts within its discretion in denying a Rule 17(b) motion if the defendant has made no effort to secure the witness' testimony before trial. Id. See also United States v. Rinchack, 820 F.2d 1557, 1566 (11th Cir.1987) (Rule 17(b) motion filed after beginning of trial was properly denied as untimely where defendant had three weeks between notice of trial date and beginning of trial in which to file motion). In this case, Butler waited almost two weeks after his trial had begun before moving for Emmanuel's production at public expense. In light of Butler's own procrastination, we decline to conclude that Judge Murray's denial of Butler's motion was an abuse of discretion.