Opinion ID: 418711
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Procedures

Text: 22 Harris next argues that further inquiry should have been appropriately conducted through an ex parte, sealed in camera hearing. 23 Both the magistrate and district court held that such a hearing was not required. We agree. It is true that there is some support for the notion that proceedings regarding eligibility under the Criminal Justice Act should be conducted in camera and without government participation, see, e.g., United States v. Anderson, supra, 567 F.2d 840-41; cf. United States v. Ellsworth, supra, 547 F.2d at 1098 (district court stated financial statement would be viewed in camera). However, it is worth noting that the Act specifically provides for ex parte applications for services other than counsel, see 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3006A(e)(1), while there is no such requirement for proceedings involving the appointment or termination of counsel. Apparently, ex parte proceedings for services other than counsel are provided for to ensure that a defense would not be prematurely or ill-advisedly disclosed. See Criminal Justice Act of 1963: Hearings on S.63 and S.1057 Before the Senate Comm. on the Judiciary, 88th Cong., 1st Sess. 173 (1963). Such considerations are not relevant to proceedings concerning the appointment or termination of counsel. But since Congress obviously knew how to provide for an ex parte proceeding when it seemed appropriate, the failure to do so in the context of appointment of counsel seems significant. Moreover, our legal system is rooted in the idea that facts are best determined in adversary proceedings; secret, ex parte hearings are manifestly conceptually incompatible with our system of criminal jurisprudence, United States v. Arroyo-Angulo, 580 F.2d 1137, 1141 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 913, 99 S.Ct. 285, 58 L.Ed.2d 260 (1978) (citations omitted). There are numerous situations where a defendant must face the unappealing choice, as Judge Leval noted, of testifying in open court or losing a constitutional claim. See, e.g., United States v. Salvucci, 448 U.S. 83, 89-95, 100 S.Ct. 2547, 2551-54, 65 L.Ed.2d 619 (1980) (fourth amendment standing); McGautha v. California, 402 U.S. 183, 213-17, 91 S.Ct. 1454, 1470-72, 28 L.Ed.2d 711 (1971) (fourteenth amendment right to be heard on issue of punishment.) 24 However, intolerable tension[s] between constitutional rights have been alleviated by applying the rule that a defendant's testimony at a pretrial hearing will not be admissible at trial on the issue of guilt unless he fails to object. See Simmons v. United States, supra, 390 U.S. at 394, 88 S.Ct. at 976; see also Note, Resolving Tensions Between Constitutional Rights: Use Immunity in Concurrent or Related Proceedings, 76 Colum.L.Rev. 674, 678-81 (1976). We have held that the government should not be permitted to use as part of its direct case any testimony given by a defendant at a hearing where he is seeking forma pauperis relief or the assignment of counsel on the ground of his financial inability to ... afford counsel, United States v. Branker, 418 F.2d 378, 380 (2d Cir.1969), and that holding is directly applicable to the case before us. See, United States v. Peister, supra, 631 F.2d at 662; cf. United States v. Ellsworth, supra, 547 F.2d at 1098 (assurance given by court that information disclosed could not be used in further tax prosecution). 25 Harris's objections to application of the Simmons and Branker rule are that it is unclear whether the Supreme Court recognizes application of Simmons to sixth amendment claims and that even if applicable, the rule would not provide sufficient protection for a defendant. While it is true that the Supreme Court has not yet decided whether Simmons is applicable in sixth amendment contexts, see United States v. Kahan, 415 U.S. 239, 243, 94 S.Ct. 1179, 1181, 39 L.Ed.2d 297 (1974) (per curiam), Kahan does not suggest that should Simmons not be applicable, an ex parte and in camera hearing would be appropriate here. As to Harris's argument that, in any event, Simmons affords inadequate protection, Harris's claim of fifth amendment violation by use of his testimony at a later time is speculative at this point. See United States v. Peister, supra, 631 F.2d at 662. Moreover, we believe that the speculative possibility of inadequate protection of defendant's fifth amendment rights is outweighed by the need to determine facts through adversarial proceedings.