Opinion ID: 580904
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: United States v. Nichols

Text: 5 A grand jury for the Southern District of California issued a four-count indictment against defendants Vickie Lee Santo, 2 Jason Coler Nichols, Jose Luis Casas, and Angela Mary Casas. The indictments charged the defendants with conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1); and aiding and abetting a felony, 18 U.S.C. § 2. 6 Counsel for defendant Jose Casas moved for access to the personnel file of a Drug Enforcement Administration special agent in order to review it for materials that could be used to impeach the agent on the witness stand. The government opposed the motion and asserted in its response memorandum that it would undertake the review of the file. On September 4, 1991 the district court, again relying on its supervisory power, ordered the AUSA assigned to the case to personally review the personnel files of all federal agents expected to be called to testify. The government moved for reconsideration on September 13, 1991, and the court modified its order to eliminate any requirement that the AUSA review the files of state and local law enforcement witnesses on October 5, 1991. The court also exempted biographical information from the review order and permitted the AUSA to examine photocopies of the file materials. The government notified the district court that it would decline to comply with the modified order on November 4, 1991. Two days later the district court ordered the testimony of twelve federal law enforcement officers suppressed, and on November 7, 1991 the government filed its timely notice of appeal.