Opinion ID: 658352
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Restrictions on Recross-Examination

Text: 111 Appellants were permitted to cross-examine all witnesses at great length. They claim, however, that their right to recross-examination of several witnesses was unduly restricted in violation of their Sixth Amendment right to confrontation. Whether the court's limitation of recross-examination constitutes a violation of the Confrontation Clause is reviewed de novo. United States v. Jones, 982 F.2d 380, 383 (9th Cir.1992). Within the bounds of constitutionality, we review a district court's limitation of questioning for an abuse of discretion. Id. 112 Allowing recross is within the sound discretion of the trial court except where new matter is elicited on redirect examination, in which case denial of recross as to that new matter violates the Confrontation Clause. See Cossack v. United States, 63 F.2d 511, 517 (9th Cir.1933); United States v. Riggi, 951 F.2d 1368, 1375 (3d Cir.1991); United States v. Caudle, 606 F.2d 451, 458 (4th Cir.1979). Although the general rule is clear, the authorities are devoid of any analysis of what constitutes new matter. If new matter is defined broadly, then any question asked on redirect that had not already been asked and answered would conceivably introduce new matter requiring the opportunity for recross insofar as it expanded or elaborated on the witness' previous testimony. Such an approach would conflict with the trial court's discretion to impose reasonable limits on cross-examination. Delaware v. Van Arsdall, 475 U.S. 673, 679, 106 S.Ct. 1431, 1435, 89 L.Ed.2d 674 (1986); see United States v. Tarantino, 846 F.2d 1384, 1405 (D.C.Cir.), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 840, 109 S.Ct. 108, 102 L.Ed.2d 83, 488 U.S. 867, 109 S.Ct. 174, 102 L.Ed.2d 143 (1988). 113 We conclude, however, that the district court applied an overly narrow definition of new matter. The district court interpreted the standard to preclude recross if the questions fell within an area or subject matter for which cross-examination had previously been available. As applied, this test improperly denied the defense recross as to material new matter brought out on redirect. Two examples demonstrate this error. 114 Sergeant David Frey testified for the government concerning seizures of drugs, and the defense cross-examined him extensively regarding his drug expertise. On redirect, the prosecutor brought out that other defense lawyers had stipulated to Frey's expertise in over 25 court appearances. The defense sought a brief recross to establish that the prior stipulations had been in the context of state preliminary hearings, where guilt is not determined and where such stipulations are common. The district court denied recross on the grounds that [Frey's] qualifications as an expert have been gone into completely. Although Frey's expertise was not a new subject, the government introduced the matter of defense stipulations to Frey's expertise for the first time on redirect. The Confrontation Clause required the opportunity for cross-examination as to this newly elicited and potentially damaging testimony. 115 DEA Agent Dale Kitts testified regarding the capacity of a 22-liter flask, commonly used as a reaction vessel in manufacturing methamphetamine. On direct examination, Kitts testified that the flask has a production potential of approximately four pounds. The defense did not press the production yield issue on cross-examination, apparently because it was satisfied with the 4-pound testimony. On redirect, the prosecutor incorrectly stated Kitts' previous testimony as a yield of about five pounds, 13 and then proceeded to establish that the potential production of a 22-liter flask was as high as 10 to 15 pounds. The district court barred the defense from challenging this testimony on recross, stating: I don't see how that's anything new. That was gone into, he did say four pounds, now he says more, that's rehabilitation, it's not a new area that hasn't been gone into before. We cannot agree that the redirect was mere rehabilitation because the 4-pound testimony had never been challenged on cross-examination. The general subject matter of the flask's production potential was not introduced on redirect, but Agent Kitts' testimony tripling the production potential presented new, material, and potentially damaging matter requiring an opportunity for recross. 116 Although we conclude that the court's undue restrictions of recross violated the Confrontation Clause, this violation is subject to harmless error analysis. Jones, 982 F.2d at 384. Reversal is not required if, assuming the damaging potential of recross-examination were fully realized, we can say that the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Van Arsdall, 475 U.S. at 684, 106 S.Ct. at 1438. Factors to consider in determining harmlessness include the importance of the witness' testimony in the prosecution's case, whether the testimony was cumulative, the presence or absence of evidence corroborating or contradicting the testimony of the witness on material points, the extent of cross-examination otherwise permitted, and ... the overall strength of the prosecution's case. Id. 117 We hold, based on our analysis of these factors, that the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Appellants make no showing that the opportunity for further recross-examination would have affected the outcome of their case. For example, although Agent Kitts' testimony was used in calculating the total amount of methamphetamine manufactured for purposes of the prosecution's summary charts, we cannot conclude that the jury would not have found the substantial proceeds required for the continuing criminal enterprise convictions had the 10- to 15-pound production potential been successfully impeached. Similarly, we do not believe that the verdict would have been different had Appellants been allowed to show that prior stipulations to Sergeant Frey's drug expertise occurred in the context of state preliminary hearings. Nor do Appellants cite any other recross restrictions sufficiently prejudicial to cast doubt on the verdict. 118 Appellants also argue that the district court permitted the prosecution to introduce new matters on redirect but denied them the same opportunity. The trial court has discretion to allow a new line of questioning on redirect examination. United States v. Lopez, 575 F.2d 681, 686 (9th Cir.1978). Appellants make no showing that the district court abused its discretion in this regard.