Opinion ID: 2063207
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Disclosure Order

Text: In State v. White, Me., 391 A.2d 291 (1978), we applied the rule enunciated by the United States Supreme Court in Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154, 98 S.Ct. 2674, 57 L.Ed.2d 667 (1978) that the right to challenge, at an evidentiary hearing, the truthfulness of statements contained in a search warrant affidavit is limited to cases where the defendant makes a substantial preliminary showing that a false statement intentionally or with reckless disregard of the truth has been included by the affiant in the affidavit. Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. at 155-56, 98 S.Ct. at 2676, 57 L.Ed.2d at 672; State v. White, 391 A.2d at 293. The State urges, in the instant case, that the defendant must also satisfy the substantial preliminary showing requirement of Franks in order to gain disclosure of an informant's identity in preparation for a suppression hearing. The United States Supreme Court in Franks, however, specifically reserved the issue of whether a reviewing court must ever require the revelation of the identity of an informant once a substantial preliminary showing of falsity has been made. 438 U.S. at 170, 98 S.Ct. at 2683, 57 L.Ed.2d at 681. While White dealt with an attack on a search warrant affidavit on the basis that the alleged informants were not in a position to supply the information attributed to them in the affidavit, we did not address in that opinion the standards to be applied by a trial judge when faced with a defendant's request for disclosure of an informant for the purpose of supporting a suppression motion. We have noted, in accord with the Supreme Court's decision in McCray v. Illinois, 386 U.S. 300, 87 S.Ct. 1056, 18 L.Ed.2d 62 (1967), that disclosure is not routinely required in probable cause hearings. State v. Brooks, Me., 366 A.2d 179, 181 n. 1 (1976); State v. Hawkins, Me., 261 A.2d 255, 260 (1970). It does not follow from these decisions, however, that disclosure is prohibited when the identity of the informant is relevant to the issue of suppression. In State v. Brooks, Me., 366 A.2d 179 (1976) while discussing in-trial disclosure we stated: Acting within the range of sound judicial discretion upon a showing of actual relevance and that a fair determination of the case requires it, a presiding justice may require the State's privilege of nondisclosure of an informant's identity to yield to a disclosure motion. Id. at 181. Similarly, although a defendant may not routinely obtain disclosure in preparation for a suppression hearing, the question of disclosure rests with the sound discretion of the trial judge and is not necessarily dependent upon satisfying the standard established in Franks or applied in White. See Commonwealth v. Douzanis, ___ Mass. ___, 425 N.E.2d 326 (1981). M.R.Evid. 509(c)(2) provides for disclosure where guilt or innocence is at issue but does not cover the question of disclosure when it relates to a suppression hearing. [3] Rule 509, however, is based on the teachings of the Supreme Court in Roviaro v. United States, 353 U.S. 53, 77 S.Ct. 623, 1 L.Ed.2d 639 (1957). Field & Murray, Maine Evidence 116 (1976) (Advisers' Note). In that decision the Supreme Court, in the exercise of its supervisory powers over the federal courts, held that disclosure is required where it is relevant and helpful to the defense of an accused or is essential to a fair determination of a cause. Roviaro v. United States, 353 U.S. at 60-61, 77 S.Ct. at 627-628, 1 L.Ed.2d at 645. The court further stated: We believe that no fixed rule with respect to disclosure is justifiable. The problem is one that calls for balancing the public interest in protecting the flow of information against the individual's right to prepare his defense. Whether a proper balance renders nondisclosure erroneous must depend on the particular circumstances of each case, taking into consideration the crime charged, the possible defenses, the possible significance of the informer's testimony, and other relevant factors. Id. at 62, 77 S.Ct. at 628, 1 L.Ed.2d at 646, quoted favorably in State v. Brooks, Me., 366 A.2d 179, 181 (1976). Similarly, in McCray v. Illinois , the Court, while concluding that the Fourteenth Amendment did not require routine disclosure in probable cause hearings, strongly intimated that a trial judge must exercise his discretion to decide whether disclosure is necessary to ascertain whether the officer is credible. McCray v. Illinois, 386 U.S. at 306-308, 87 S.Ct. at 1060-1061, 18 L.Ed.2d at 68-69, quoting State v. Burnett, 42 N.J. 377, 385-88, 201 A.2d 39, 43-45 (1969); see 1 W. LaFave, Search & Seizure § 3.3(g) at 573-75 (1978) ( McCray does not foreclose disclosure, emphasizes the need for discretion on this matter.) Further, the treatise on the Maine law of evidence notes that the shield of privilege should not be used to hide police misbehavior in search and seizure procedures. Field & Murray, Maine Evidence § 509.1 at 117 (1976). These authorities indicate a persuasive basis for the use of sound judicial discretion on the issue of disclosure in suppression proceedings. The Supreme Court's decision in Franks and our decision in White set forth a procedure by which defendants can assert their rights against unreasonable search and seizure. In instances where the State relies on confidential informants, defendants lack the very information necessary to establish the threshold showing required under Franks and White and thus lack the ability to protect their rights through the mechanism provided in these decisions. United States v. Brian, 507 F.Supp. 761, 766-67 (D.R.I.1981); see Commonwealth v. Douzanis, ___ Mass. at ___, 425 N.E.2d at 331 (1981). To deny defendants information regarding the informant where probable cause rests on statements and actions attributed to an undisclosed informant would `denude the probable-cause requirement of all real meaning' in much the same way that [as the Franks decision noted] a blanket ban on attacks of the government's affidavit would. United States v. Brian, 507 F.Supp. at 767; see Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. at 168, 98 S.Ct. at 2682, 57 L.Ed.2d at 680. Hearings before a District Court judge or complaint justice will not suffice to curb police misconduct in this area because the hasty ex-parte inquiry required by the very nature of the proceedings results in a less vigorous and extended analysis than is available in an adversary setting. United States v. Brian, 507 F.Supp. at 767; see Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. at 169, 98 S.Ct. at 2683, 57 L.Ed.2d at 680. In light of the above, we believe that M.R.Evid. 509(c)(2) should not be the exclusive measure by which disclosure motions are decided. While the need for the identity of an informant may not be as weighty in the context of a suppression hearing as it is where guilt or innocence is at issue, this does not foreclose the defendant's right to disclosure in order to ensure a fair hearing on the probable cause issue. See United States v. Harper, 609 F.2d 1198 (6th Cir. 1979) (trial court erred in refusing disclosure where informant essential to prove whether break-in instigated by police and therefore violative of the Fourth Amendment); People v. Pointdexter, 90 Mich.App. 599, 607, 282 N.W.2d 411, 415 (1979) (fair determination of cause includes consideration of validity of search warrant); Field & Murray, Maine Evidence § 509.1 at 117 (1976) (privilege should not serve as shield to hide police misconduct in searches and seizures). We therefore conclude that where a defendant attacks an affidavit based upon facts attributed to confidential informants and thereby brings into question the validity of a warrant, the trial judge must decide whether in his sound discretion disclosure is warranted. We need not decide and express no opinion on whether an attack on a warrant can ever be launched on grounds other than those expressed in our opinion in White. The trial judge in the exercise of his discretion must balance the State's interest in protecting the flow of information against the defendant's need for information against the defendant's need for information material to his defense. Because of the State's interest involved, some showing greater than a bare assertion and supported by more than the mere desire to determine the informant's identity must be made by the defendant. A legitimate question or doubt must be raised in the Court's mind as to the affiant's credibility before disclosure is warranted, but the level of showing adequate to vitiate the State's interest need not be as great as that required by White to compel an evidentiary hearing. The Court should bear in mind, at all times, the difficulty of raising substantial allegations regarding an affiant's or informant's conduct where the identity of the informant is unknown to the defendant. The use of in camera proceedings may aid the judge in deciding whether in the exercise of discretion disclosure is proper. In camera disclosure by the State in the form of an affidavit of the name of the informant or in camera examination by the Court of the informant or affiant may provide a basis, in addition to the showing by the defendant, for the Court to decide whether disclosure or further hearings on the motion to suppress are appropriate. See M.R.Evid. 509(c)(2) (public entity has opportunity to show by affidavit whether informant can supply information sought; where affidavit insufficient to resolve issue, Court may direct that testimony be taken); United States v. Brian, 507 F.Supp. at 766; Commonwealth v. Douzanis, ___ Mass. at ___, 425 N.E.2d at 331-32; see generally 1 W. LaFave, Search and Seizure § 3.3(g) at 582-86 (1978). Such procedures can adequately protect the State's interest in anonymity and may be particularly useful where there is a claim that the informant's existence or communication was fabricated. A record must be made of testimony or evidence presented in camera. Only the existence of the record and the form in which the evidence was presented must be revealed to defense counsel. That record should be sealed and preserved so that it can be available for appellate review. Viewed under the standards discussed above, we are satisfied that the Superior Court did not abuse its discretion in ordering disclosure of the State's informant. Defendant had focused on a particular individual as the possible informant. He produced evidence which suggested that his assumption was correct and that the informant was in jail at the time the events he allegedly took part in occurred. In light of this testimony, we do not believe that following an in camera disclosure of the informant by the State to the Court, a disclosure order was improper.