Opinion ID: 414052
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Michael Lilla's Conviction

Text: 18 Lilla, who sold Trooper Cook a pound of marijuana before the April 23 warrant was issued, argues on appeal that Judge Munson erred in denying a pretrial request for disclosure of, inter alia, the identity of Trooper Cook's informant. We find no error in this ruling. The defendant bears the burden of establishing the need for disclosure, see Socialist Workers Party v. Attorney General, 565 F.2d 19, 23 (2d Cir.1977), cert. denied, 436 U.S. 962, 98 S.Ct. 3082, 57 L.Ed.2d 1129 (1978), and this requires some demonstration that in the absence of such disclosure the defendant will be denied a fair trial. See Roviaro v. United States, 353 U.S. 53, 60-61, 77 S.Ct. 623, 627-28, 1 L.Ed.2d 639 (1957). Whether disclosure is appropriate is a matter left in the first instance to the district court's discretion. See, e.g., United States v. Turbide, 558 F.2d 1053, 1060-61 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 434 U.S. 934, 98 S.Ct. 421, 54 L.Ed.2d 293 (1977); United States v. Soles, 482 F.2d 105, 108-09 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 414 U.S. 1027, 94 S.Ct. 455, 38 L.Ed.2d 319 (1973). Lilla made no showing to the trial court--and presents no argument on appeal--suggesting that denial of the disclosure request impaired his ability to prepare a defense. We note that Judge Munson did conduct an in camera review of government materials relating to the informant, an approach we have approved in the past as a highly appropriate and useful means of dealing with claims of governmental privilege. Socialist Workers Party, 565 F.2d at 23, quoting Kerr v. United States District Court, 426 U.S. 394, 406, 96 S.Ct. 2119, 2125, 48 L.Ed.2d 725 (1976). Lilla's final claim--that his sentence of one year and one day is excessive--is without merit. 19 Judgment reversed in part, affirmed in part.