Opinion ID: 2996966
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Witness Use Immunity

Text: George argues that the prosecutor should have granted Amin use immunity to allow him to testify at trial. Use immunity is a device created by 18 U.S.C. §§ 6002, 6003 that allows a witness to testify and not have that testimony used against him or her in a criminal case. The prosecutor is not required to grant use immunity, but may do so when, “in his judgment . . . the testimony or information from such individual may be necessary to the public interest.” 18 U.S.C. § 6003(b). The power to grant use immunity is delegated exclusively to the executive branch of the government; federal courts play only a ministerial role in ensuring the power is properly exercised. United States v. Taylor, 728 F.2d 930, 934 (7th Cir. 1984). We review a prosecutor’s decision not to grant a witness use immunity for clear abuse of discretion. United States v. Schweihs, 971 F.2d 1302, 1315 (7th Cir. 1992). In this case, the government declined to provide Amin use immunity because it wished to maintain its ability to collect evidence to use against him in the event he violated the terms of his plea agreement. This situation clearly falls under the purview of our decision in United States v. Hooks. There we held, “[i]t is well within the discretion of a prosecutor . . . to decline immunity to a witness who could 6 Nos. 02-2996 & 02-4000 be charged for false statement and perjury.” Hooks, 848 F.2d. at 802. And it is the prosecutor’s “prerogative to decide not to seek immunity simply because the government would gain nothing and the immunity would hinder future actions.” Id. Given Amin’s involvement in the fraud schemes and his earlier conflicting statements, the prosecutor did not abuse his discretion in not granting use immunity to Amin.