Opinion ID: 520307
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Restriction of Defense Counsel's Cross-Examination

Text: 25 Nelson North was one of the government's witnesses at trial, and North testified that he observed the firearms described in Counts 1, 6, and 8 in Towne's possession. At the time of Towne's trial, North was facing a charge in Vermont of driving with a suspended license. When defense counsel asked North about the pending state charge, Judge Coffrin interrupted the trial and had the jury removed. Upon questioning by defense counsel, North acknowledged that he hoped his testimony in the federal case would help him in his sentencing on the charge in state court. Notwithstanding the witness's admissions, Judge Coffrin thereafter sustained the government's objection to defense counsel's line of questioning, brought in the jury, and then reprimanded defense counsel for posing an improper question. Appellant argues that the district court's decision not to allow cross-examination of North with respect to the state court charges was an abuse of discretion and a violation of the confrontation clause of the sixth amendment, because he was unable to elicit evidence of North's possible bias or his improper motives in testifying against appellant. 26 Appellant's contentions are not without some merit, and we believe that the district judge should have allowed defense counsel to cross-examine North regarding his motives for testifying against Towne. The judge's decision not to allow counsel's examination because there was no official deal between federal prosecutors and North was erroneous. See Delaware v. Van Arsdall, 475 U.S. 673, 678-79, 106 S.Ct. 1431, 1435-36, 89 L.Ed.2d 674 (1986); cf. United States v. Dorfman, 470 F.2d 246, 248 (2d Cir.1972) (defense can be permitted to elicit testimony that witness hoped for government leniency on pending charge), cert. dismissed, 411 U.S. 923, 93 S.Ct. 1561, 36 L.Ed.2d 317 (1973). Nevertheless, once it is determined that a court impermissibly restricted the scope of cross-examination, the correct inquiry [then becomes] whether, assuming the damaging potential of cross-examination were fully realized, a reviewing court might nonetheless say that the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Van Arsdall, 475 U.S. at 684, 106 S.Ct. at 1438. It is clear to us from the considerable evidence in this case against Towne that the restriction of defense counsel's examination of North was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. The evidence with respect to each count was overwhelming, the testimony of Nelson North was both cumulative and corroborated, and North was both extensively and effectively cross-examined on all other relevant points. See id. at 684, 106 S.Ct. at 1438. Moreover, on appeal, Towne fails to demonstrate how the error was prejudicial or harmful to his defense. We conclude that while the district judge should have permitted broader cross-examination of North, any infringement of appellant's sixth amendment right to confront this witness was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.