Opinion ID: 157151
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Untimely Disclosure of Giglio Evidence

Text: 17 Mr. Gonzalez-Montoya unsuccessfully sought a mistrial on the grounds that the government's violation of the disclosure rules of Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150, 153-54, 92 S.Ct. 763, 31 L.Ed.2d 104 (1972), deprived him of a fair trial. We review questions regarding the disclosure of exculpatory or impeachment evidence de novo. See Smith v. Secretary of New Mexico Dept. of Corrections, 50 F.3d 801, 827 (10th Cir.1995). Impeachment, as well as exculpatory evidence falls within the rule, articulated in Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 87, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963), that suppression of material information favorable to the accused violates due process. See Giglio, 405 U.S. at 154, 92 S.Ct. 763; Smith, 50 F.3d at 822, 825. In order to establish a Brady or Giglio violation, the defendant bears the burden of establishing (1) that the prosecution suppressed the evidence, (2) that the evidence was favorable to the accused, and (3) that the evidence was material. Smith, 50 F.3d at 824. According to the Supreme Court, the criterion of materiality is met only if there is a reasonable probability that the outcome of the trial would have been different had the evidence been disclosed to the defense. United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 682, 105 S.Ct. 3375, 87 L.Ed.2d 481 (1985); see also Smith, 50 F.3d at 827. 18 The documents relating to Mr. Bonillo-Esqueda's involvement in an earlier drug transaction constituted impeachment evidence that the prosecution should have disclosed in a timely manner. See 3 R. at 137. Mr. Bonillo-Esqueda was an alleged co-conspirator. He was thus a material witness whose credibility, or lack thereof, played a critical role in the determination of Mr. Gonzalez-Montoya's guilt or innocence. See Giglio, 405 U.S. at 154, 92 S.Ct. 763; United States v. Buchanan, 891 F.2d 1436, 1443 (10th Cir.1989). 19 In denying a mistrial, the district court incorrectly stated that bad faith is a prerequisite for a mistrial on Giglio grounds. See 3 R. at 134. Constitutional error arises from the character of the evidence, not character of the prosecutor. United States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. 97, 107, 96 S.Ct. 2392, 49 L.Ed.2d 342 (1976); Brady, 373 U.S. at 84, 83 S.Ct. 1194. Although we held in United States v. Dennison, 891 F.2d 255, 260 (10th Cir.1989), that dismissal of a case in mid-trial for failure to fully comply with a discovery order is too extreme a sanction where the prosecutor did not act in bad faith and no prejudice occurred, our precedent establishes that the term 'suppression,' in the Brady context, does not require a finding of. .[a] culpable state of mind.... Smith, 50 F.3d at 824; see also, e.g., United States v. Sullivan, 919 F.2d 1403, 1426 (10th Cir.1990). Distinctions between late disclosure and non-disclosure, good faith and bad faith, have no relevance if the government's conduct prejudices the outcome of the case. 20 Here, no prejudice resulted. The trial judge found that untimely disclosure did not affect the results of the proceeding because defense counsel had an opportunity to review the new evidence and question Mr. Bonillo-Esqueda about it. See id. at 138. When assessing the materiality of Giglio information, we must consider the significance of the suppressed evidence in relation to the entire record. See Smith, 50 F.3d at 827. We will not automatically order a new trial whenever a combing of the prosecutor's files ... has disclosed evidence possibly useful to the defense but not likely to have changed the verdict. Giglio, 405 U.S. at 154, 92 S.Ct. 763; United States v. Washita Construction Co., 789 F.2d 809, 824 (10th Cir.1986). 21 On appeal, Mr. Gonzalez-Montoya has failed to demonstrate a reasonable probability that timely revelation of the impeachment evidence would have altered the outcome of his case. See Bagley, 473 U.S. at 682, 105 S.Ct. 3375. After obtaining and reviewing the new evidence during trial, defense counsel declined to interview Mr. Bonillo-Esqueda or to examine him in front of the jury about the prior drug deal. See 3 R. at 136. The record suggests, and defense counsel conceded at oral argument, that the decision not to probe the issue further stemmed from concern about opening the door to evidence of the Defendant's involvement in the earlier transaction. See 2 R. at 95-96, 133. Defense counsel stated at oral argument that, if he had obtained the impeachment evidence earlier, he would have used a private investigator to show that Mr. Bonillo-Esqueda was the leader and organizer of the illegal activity. However, the defense lawyer's reluctance to question Mr. Bonillo-Esqueda about the May 22 transaction, for fear of implicating Mr. Gonzalez-Montoya, would not have abated with additional time to prepare. Thus, the district court properly denied Mr. Gonzalez-Montoya's motion for a mistrial.