Opinion ID: 196032
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Violation of Sequestration Order

Text: 23 Appellants assert that the district court committed reversible error by allowing a witness for the appellee, Michael Faulkingham (Faulkingham), to testify after he admittedly violated the court's sequestration order. The district court thoroughly explored this issue at trial. The court allowed counsel for appellants to voir dire Faulkingham on the record about what he heard while in violation of the court's order. The court also conducted a voir dire of Faulkingham. Faulkingham testified on voir dire that he was in the courtroom for about ten minutes during the direct and cross-examinations of appellee witness, Michael Kramp (Kramp), and then left when he was informed that he was not allowed to be in the courtroom. Faulkingham told the court what he heard Kramp testify about. Counsel for Winter then told the court the questions he would ask Faulkingham. 24 The court determined that there was no overlap in the two areas of questioning and allowed Faulkingham to testify. Counsel for Winter asked Faulkingham thirteen questions on direct examination, seven of which were foundational. None of the questions related to anything Faulkingham testified he heard Kramp testify about. The appropriate sanction for breach of a sequestration order is ordinarily left to the district court's discretion. See United States v. Cox, 752 F.2d 741, 748 (1st Cir. 1985). Appellants have not shown that the measures adopted by the district court were inappropriate or that the violations were so significant as to warrant departure from this ordinary rule. Finally, appellants have not shown how they were prejudiced by Faulkingham being allowed to testify. We conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in allowing Faulkingham to testify.