Opinion ID: 411723
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Perjury Warnings

Text: 36 The constitutional right of a criminal defendant to call witnesses in his defense mandates that they be free to testify without fear of governmental retaliation. It is not improper per se for a trial court judge or prosecuting attorney to advise prospective witnesses of the penalties for testifying falsely. See, e.g., United States v. Simmons, 670 F.2d 365 (D.C.Cir.1982) (per curiam). But warnings concerning the dangers of perjury cannot be emphasized to the point where they threaten and intimidate the witness into refusing to testify. See Webb v. Texas, 409 U.S. 95, 93 S.Ct. 351, 34 L.Ed.2d 330; United States v. Harlin, 539 F.2d 679 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 429 U.S. 942, 97 S.Ct. 362, 50 L.Ed.2d 313 (1976); United States v. Morrison, 535 F.2d 223 (3d Cir.1976); Berg v. Morris, 483 F.Supp. 179. 37 The prosecutor and trial judge in this case each warned Robinson of the consequences of perjury on only one occasion. When the prosecutor first heard, on the second day of trial, that Robinson had decided to waive her privilege against self-incrimination and testify as a defense witness, he asked permission of the court to inquire into the voluntariness of her intended waiver, citing the close relationship between Blackwell and Robinson and pointing out that a very substantial question of perjury was involved. The trial judge then questioned Robinson under oath, stating: 38 there are always actions of perjury meaning that if you lie under oath that you can be sent away on a new charge. 39 Do you understand that? 40 THE WITNESS: Yes. 41 THE COURT: So it is important for everybody to tell the truth. I just want you to understand what the situation is. All right? 42 THE WITNESS: Thank you. 43 THE COURT: Do you still wish to take the stand and testify? 44 THE WITNESS: Yes. 45 Tr. at 130. The record reveals no other warnings to Robinson regarding the dangers of committing perjury. 46 The conduct of the judge and the prosecutor just recounted does not begin to approach the level of misconduct described in Webb v. Texas or United States v. Morrison. In Webb, for example, the Supreme Court reversed a conviction for burglary when a trial judge gratuitously and at great length warned a witness of the dire consequences of committing perjury. The trial judge had told the witness: 47 If you take the witness stand and lie under oath, the Court will personally see that your case goes to the grand jury and you will be indicted for perjury and the liklihood [sic] is that you would get convicted of perjury and that it would be stacked onto what you have already got, so that is the matter you have got to make up your mind on. If you get on the witness stand and lie, it is probably going to mean several years and at least more time that you are going to have to serve. It will also be held against you in the penitentiary when you're up for parole and the Court wants you to thoroughly understand the chances you're taking by getting on that witness stand under oath. You may tell the truth and if you do, that is all right, but if you lie you can get into real trouble. The court wants you to know that. You don't owe anybody anything to testify and it must be done freely and voluntarily and with the thorough understanding that you know the hazard you are taking. 48 409 U.S. at 96, 93 S.Ct. at 352. The Supreme Court held that these threatening remarks had effectively driven the witness off the stand, thereby depriving the defendant of due process of law. Id. at 98, 93 S.Ct. at 353. 49 In Morrison, the prosecutor sent at least three messages to a potential defense witness through her attorney warning her that, if she testified, she was liable to prosecution, that her testimony would be used as evidence against her, and that it would be possible to bring federal perjury charges against her. In addition, he subpoenaed the witness and had her brought to his office for an intimidating personal interview, telling her during the interview that 50 if she testified falsely ... she could subject herself to a perjury charge, and I told her that even though the charges were dismissed against her as an adult on the dope charge itself, that if she testified falsely she was now an adult over 18, and if we could prove it, and she was testifying falsely on behalf of [the defendant] thinking to get her to lie to exculpate himself and get off the hook, she could be prosecuted for perjury, and she should know that. 51 535 F.2d at 226. As a result of these activities on the part of the prosecutor, the court held that the defendant's constitutional right to have this particular witness' freely given testimony had been infringed. Id. at 228. 52 Rather, this case falls within this circuit's rule requiring more than a mere warning regarding the dangers of perjury before reversal of a criminal conviction is warranted. United States v. Simmons, 670 F.2d 365. In Simmons, this court remanded a case to the district court for a full hearing on the defendant's charge of prosecutorial misconduct; at the same time, however, we stated that [i]t is hardly a threat for a prosecutor to advise a potential witness, who is telling two stories with respect to a defendant's criminal involvement, that he might be prosecuted for perjury if he testifies falsely. 12 Id. at 371. See also United States v. Harlin, 539 F.2d 679 (trial court did not deprive defendant of due process when it stated in his presence to counsel representing a codefendant that I assume you have advised her of the penalties of perjury ... and that if it appears that a defendant is lying, the Court can take that into account, too). 53 The trial judge and prosecutor in this case stayed well within acceptable limits in their warnings to Robinson regarding the potential dangers of committing perjury if she testified. Their conduct in this regard gave rise to no legitimate constitutional complaint. 54