Opinion ID: 71441
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Abuse of Discretion Through Limitation on Recall of a Government Witness

Text: 8 Butler argues that the trial court abused its discretion by limiting Butler's ability to recall the government's key witness regarding telephone records that were introduced after examination of the witness. Bill Noble, the government's key witness, was convicted of conspiracy charges relating to the instant case. In an effort to reduce his sentence of 360 months, Noble testified as to Butler's involvement in the conspiracy. Telephone records introduced after Noble's examination corroborated his testimony. Butler argues that he was prevented from examining Noble about the records in violation of his Sixth Amendment right to confront the witness. 1 The government argues that Butler never renewed his request that the witness be recalled during his presentation of evidence, and that in any case, Butler's Sixth Amendment rights were not compromised because he had ample opportunity to attack Noble's credibility during cross-examination. 9 [E]videntiary rulings will be disturbed on appeal only where there appears a clear abuse of discretion. United States v. Taylor, 17 F.3d 333, 340 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 950, 115 S.Ct. 364, 130 L.Ed.2d 317 (1994). Moreover, [a] trial judge has broad discretion in controlling the extent of direct and cross-examination. United States v. James, 510 F.2d 546, 551 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 855, 96 S.Ct. 105, 46 L.Ed.2d 81 (1975). The defense made a tactical decision not to introduce the telephone records during its cross-examination of Noble. If the records on their face impeached the testimony of Noble, further cross-examination was unnecessary. See Taylor, 17 F.3d at 340 (noting that once there is sufficient cross-examination to satisfy the Sixth Amendment's Confrontation Clause, further questioning is within the district court's discretion). If, however, Butler sought to recall Noble to contradict the telephone records on a subject about which Noble had previously not testified, further cross-examination may have been warranted. Assuming without so holding that additional cross-examination was permitted, the substantial evidence introduced against Butler assures that the error was harmless. Ignoring the toll records, the balance of the evidence supported Butler's convictions. Noble testified that cocaine that he received from Campbell and his brother was distributed to Butler and co-defendant Rodney Walker. When Noble stopped acting as a go-between for Campbell and Butler, Butler began to receive the cocaine directly from Campbell, a fact supported by the testimony of Noble and Walker. In addition, undercover agents witnessed Butler selling cocaine. Finally, evidence seized in two separate searches corroborated the relationship between co-defendant Marvin Campbell and Butler. Accordingly, reversal of Butler's convictions on this ground is unwarranted. 10