Opinion ID: 161004
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Evidence Withheld from Defendant

Text: 36 We now turn to whether the State's failure to disclose information about lack of sperm in the semen sample violated Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 87 (1963). In Brady, the Supreme Court held the suppression by the prosecution of evidence favorable to an accused upon request violates due process where the evidence is material either to guilt or to punishment, irrespective of good faith or bad faith of the prosecution. 373 U.S. at 87. 37 This court has established three requirements to establish a Brady violation: (1) the prosecutor suppressed evidence; (2) the evidence was favorable to the defendant as exculpatory or impeachment evidence; and (3) the evidence was material. See Smith v. Roberts, 115 F.3d 818, 820 (10th Cir. 1997) (citing Fero v. Kerby, 39 F.3d 1462, 1472 (10th Cir. 1994)). 38 Laboratory analysis of the semen found on Williamson's leg revealed that there were no traces of sperm in the sample. Though the KBI serologist who examined the sample suggested that investigators confirm whether a suspect was a sperm producer, she did not include this finding in the written report sent to the State. 3 As will be discussed below, the KBI's failure to find sperm in the sample does not conclusively exclude Gonzales as a potential donor. The Kansas Court of Appeals therefore concluded that Gonzales's Brady claim failed because the evidence was not clearly exculpatory. We hold this finding was clearly erroneous. Evidence withheld by the government need not conclusively exonerate a defendant in order to qualify as Brady material. See, e.g., Smith v. Secretary of New Mexico Dep't of Corr., 50 F.3d 801, 825 n.37 (10th Cir. 1995). Rather, the evidence need only be favorable to the defense. See id. In this case, the absence of sperm in the sample clearly does carry probative weight making it less likely that Gonzales was the donor, and therefore the information was exculpatory. Moreover, it is clear the State failed to inform Gonzales that the sample contained no sperm cells. Therefore, Gonzales has met the first and second requirements necessary to show a Brady violation. 39