Opinion ID: 796946
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Form 302 Interview

Text: 40 We review for abuse of discretion a district court's decision on how to handle a delayed disclosure. United States v. Catano, 65 F.3d 219, 227 (1st Cir.1995). 41 Prior to trial, Misla sought discovery under Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150, 92 S.Ct. 763, 31 L.Ed.2d 104 (1972), of information potentially useful in impeaching government witnesses. Under Giglio, the withholding of such impeachment information would fall under the rule of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963), that suppression of favorable evidence violates due process if the evidence is material to guilt or punishment. Giglio, 405 U.S. at 154, 92 S.Ct. 763. Where the evidence is never forthcoming, we ask whether that nondisclosure might have affected the outcome of the trial. United States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. 97, 104, 96 S.Ct. 2392, 49 L.Ed.2d 342 (1976). However, where the evidence is only delayed, we ask instead whether defendant's counsel was prevented by the delay from using the disclosed material effectively in preparing and presenting the defendant's case. United States v. Ingraldi, 793 F.2d 408, 411-12 (1st Cir.1986); see Catano, 65 F.3d at 227. 42 To prevail on this argument, the defendant must at a minimum make a prima facie showing of a plausible strategic option which the delay foreclosed. United States v. Devin, 918 F.2d 280, 290 (1st Cir.1990); see United States v. Lemmerer, 277 F.3d 579, 588 (1st Cir.2002). Misla has made no such showing here. Instead, he argues only that the circumstances of the disclosure imply an attempt by the government to deliberately keep the information from Misla. Even if that were true, it is not sufficient to force a mistrial where the defendant is not prejudiced. The critical inquiry is not why disclosure was delayed but whether the tardiness prevented defense counsel from employing the material to good effect. Devin, 918 F.2d at 290. 43 The district court found that the delayed disclosure had no effect, since Misla was still able to use the information to impeach Ramos. Indeed, Misla appears to have been fully aware of the allegations contained in the Form 302 prior to trial, since the allegations of money laundering first came to light through his counsel's cross-examination of Ramos. Given this, we fail to see how Misla was prejudiced by the delayed disclosure of the Form 302 interview with Torres. 44 Misla also challenges the district court's ruling to disallow the testimony of Hernández and Priegues, the FBI agents who had originally handled the Form 302. The court stated that testimony regarding an alleged cover-up was not relevant to the case, especially given that Misla already had the Form 302 admitted into evidence to use to impeach Ramos. Misla argues that the fact of any government cover-up would have bolstered his argument that Ramos was lying about laundering the Pubill money. 45 It may be that this ruling should be reviewed as a typical evidentiary matter, rather than as a ruling on a possible sanction for a Brady violation, but regardless our review is solely for abuse of discretion. United States v. Guerrier, 428 F.3d 76, 79 (1st Cir.2005) (as to evidentiary ruling); Catano, 65 F.3d at 227 (as to decision on delayed disclosure). For the same reasons as discussed above, we find no such abuse here.