Opinion ID: 706003
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Failure to Admit Polygraph Results

Text: 42 At trial, Sherlin sought to admit polygraph test results that allegedly proved that he was truthful when he denied burning the Ellis Hall dormitory and that he did not lie to the grand jury. Relying on the Supreme Court's recent interpretation of Federal Rule of Evidence 702 2 in Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., --- U.S. ----, 113 S.Ct. 2786, 125 L.Ed.2d 469 (1993), Sherlin contended that the polygraph results were admissible pursuant to Rule 702. The district court ruled, however, that the proposed evidence was inadmissible under Federal Rule of Evidence 403 because its probative value was outweighed by the prejudice. J.A. at 95-96. On appeal, Sherlin contends, based on the same grounds as below, that the court erred in this decision. 43 The decision to exclude from evidence the results of a polygraph examination is within the sound discretion of the trial court. United States v. Blakeney, 942 F.2d at 1014. In order to determine whether the results of a polygraph examination should be admitted at trial over an opponent's objections, this court has established a two-step analysis. First, the evidence must be relevant, and second, its probative value must outweigh the prejudice. United States v. Barger, 931 F.2d 359, 370 (6th Cir.1991). As a general rule, the results of a polygraph examination are inadmissible. Blakeney, 942 F.2d at 1014. Indeed, this circuit has recently stated that unilaterally obtained polygraph evidence is almost never admissible under Evidence Rule 403. Conti v. Commissioner, 39 F.3d 658, 663 (6th Cir.1994), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 115 S.Ct. 1793, 131 L.Ed.2d 722 (1995). 44 The Sixth Circuit has consistently recognized that in the absence of a prior agreement between the parties that the results of an examination would be admissible, the probative value of the polygraph is substantially less because the defendant would have no adverse interest at stake in the polygraph. Id. at 662-63; Wolfel v. Holbrook, 823 F.2d 970, 974 (6th Cir.1987), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 1069, 108 S.Ct. 1035, 98 L.Ed.2d 999 (1988). Thus, Sherlin's privately commissioned polygraph test, which was unknown to the government until after its completion, is of extremely dubious probative value. 45 Federal Rule of Evidence 403 provides that even relevant evidence may be excluded if in the discretion of the court its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. This court has previously suggested in Barnier v. Szentmiklosi, 810 F.2d 594, 597 (6th Cir.1987), that the use of a polygraph solely to bolster a witness' credibility is highly prejudicial, especially where credibility issues are central to the verdict. In this case, the district court noted that Sherlin's credibility is probably, without overstating it, maybe the central issue in this case. J.A. at 590. 46 Although Sherlin relies on Daubert and its analysis of Federal Rule of Evidence 702, this court has held that when a defendant unilaterally takes a polygraph, the district court has the separate discretion to exclude the test results under Federal Rule of Evidence 403. Conti, 39 F.3d at 662-63. In Conti, we rejected the argument that Daubert was controlling in these circumstances; Rule 403 offers a basis for excluding polygraph results independent of Daubert. Conti, 39 F.3d at 662-63. In the instant case, the district court reached the same conclusion. J.A. at 95-96. 47 Thus, we find that the district court did not abuse its discretion when it refused to admit this polygraph evidence pursuant to Rule 403 because its probative value was outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.