Opinion ID: 782712
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The District Attorney's Office's Use of Allegedly Perjured Testimony

Text: 46 As a separate but related issue, petitioner argues that the District Attorney's Office violated Brady by allowing Landers and Pullum to testify falsely that they received no promises of leniency in exchange for their testimony. This argument fails, as petitioner cannot establish that the state court's finding that there were no such undisclosed promises was clearly erroneous. 47 Petitioner also argues that the District Attorney's Office violated Brady by allowing Landers and Pullum to testify falsely that they did not expect to receive a benefit in exchange for their testimony. However, the facts of this case do not suggest that the District Attorney's Office knew or should have known that either witness expected to receive favorable treatment. While Landers's and Pullum's attorneys may have intended to request leniency based upon their clients's cooperation, any intentions to seek leniency or hopes of receiving it do not translate into an expectation that they would, in fact, receive favorable treatment from the District Attorney's Office. More important, however, there is no evidence that either Landers or Pullum made known to the District Attorney's Office any expectations that they might receive leniency in exchange for their testimony. 48 Justice Feldman's comment that Landers and Pullum may receive a break does not prove that the District Attorney's Office knew or should have known that the witnesses expected to receive favorable treatment. Even were we to accept petitioner's argument that Landers and Pullum expected leniency because of the judge's comment, it necessarily follows that they thought they had lost their break by failing to make their court appearances. Justice Feldman explicitly told Landers, in Pullum's presence, If you don't come back to court, you won't get the break. Landers and Pullum subsequently failed to appear for their April 4, 1984 court appearances and were arrested prior to testifying at petitioner's trial, which began on April 9, 1984. Thus, the state court's references to a break do not evidence that Landers and Pullum falsely testified that they did not expect to receive leniency, or more important, that the District Attorney's Office knew or should have known about this alleged perjury. For these reasons, we reject Petitioner's Brady claim on this ground. 49