Opinion ID: 2830344
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Order of Presentation

Text: Mr. Rodebaugh seems to contend the district court also erred by making him present first at the suppression hearing. We review a court’s decision on the presentation of evidence under an abuse-of-discretion standard. See Thweatt v. Ontko, 814 F.2d 1466, 1470 (10th Cir. 1987). The Government argues this issue should be reviewed for plain error because Mr. Rodebaugh failed to make a contemporaneous objection to the order of presentation. We need not resolve whether plain error review applies because we conclude there was no error. A district court has “considerable discretion” in running its courtroom. United States v. Banks, 761 F.3d 1163, 1193 (10th Cir. 2014). Courts must exercise control “over the mode and order of examining witnesses and presenting evidence.” Fed. R. Evid. 611(a); see United States v. Janati, 374 F.3d 263, 273 (4th Cir. 2004) (“[W]e have held, among other things, that district courts have wide-ranging control over management of their dockets, the courtroom procedures, and the admission of evidence.”); Ontko, 814 F.2d at 1470 (“A trial court necessarily possesses considerable discretion in determining the conduct of a trial, including the orderly presentation of evidence.”). The trial court’s discretionary decisions relating to the orderly presentation of evidence “will not be disturbed absent a manifest injustice to the parties.” Ontko, 814 F.2d at 1470. interrogation.” United States v. Erving L., 147 F.3d 1240, 1247 (10th Cir. 1998) (quotations and citations omitted). Mr. Rodebaugh makes no argument on appeal that he was subject to custodial police interrogation and therefore cannot prevail on this argument. - 16 - Mr. Rodebaugh has failed to demonstrate how presenting first prejudiced him in any way, much less resulted in any manifest injustice. Contrary to what Mr. Rodebaugh seems to contend, there is nothing in the record to indicate that the district court’s decision to make Mr. Rodebaugh present first shifted the burden of proof from the Government to him. After Mr. Rodebaugh presented his evidence on the motion to suppress, the Government called its own witnesses. By making Mr. Rodebaugh present first (seemingly because he had filed the motion), the district court was simply exercising its discretion to run its courtroom as it saw fit.12