Opinion ID: 3065125
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Brady and Napue Claims

Text: [5] Hamilton claims that the prosecution suppressed evidence that “could reasonably be taken to put the whole case in such a different light as to undermine confidence in the verdict.” Kyles v. Whitley, 514 U.S. 419, 435 (1995); see also Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963); Napue v. Illinois, 360 U.S. 264 (1959). Specifically, he argues that the prosecution withheld evidence of certain terms of Gilbert’s plea agreement and of his personal ties to one of the Sheriff’s detectives who investigated the case, Detective Jay Salazar; that the prosecution ordered Gilbert to conform his testimony to a “scripted” statement and pressured him to “round up” alibi 13596 HAMILTON v. AYERS witnesses; and that the prosecution withheld evidence of concessions Vicki received in exchange for her testimony. The California Supreme Court summarily rejected Hamilton’s Brady and Napue claims, and the district court denied them on the merits. The district court also denied Hamilton’s request for an evidentiary hearing on these claims pursuant to Townsend v. Sain, 372 U.S. 293, 312 (1963), overruled on other grounds by Keeney v. Tamayo-Reyes, 504 U.S. 1, 5-6 (1992), and its progeny, see, e.g., Insyxiengmay v. Morgan, 403 F.3d 657, 669-70 (9th Cir. 2005). We agree with the district court. There are three components to a Brady violation: (1) exculpatory or impeaching evidence favorable to the accused; (2) suppressed by the State; (3) resulting in prejudice. Strickler v. Greene, 527 U.S. 263, 281-82 (1999). To establish prejudice under Brady, Hamilton must demonstrate a “ ‘reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, the result of the proceeding would have been different.’ ” Id. at 280 (quoting United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 682 (1985)). In contrast, where the prosecution presents or fails to correct false evidence in violation of Napue, we assess whether there is “ ‘any reasonable likelihood that the false testimony could have affected the judgment of the jury.’ ” Jackson, 513 F.3d at 1078 (quoting Hayes v. Brown, 399 F.3d 972, 985 (9th Cir. 2005) (en banc)). “The materiality of suppressed evidence is ‘considered collectively, not item by item.’ ” Id. at 1071 (quoting Kyles, 514 U.S. at 436).3 Even 3 In Jackson, we described the analytical model for collectively assessing the materiality of Brady and Napue claims: Although we must analyze Brady and Napue violations “collectively,” the difference in the materiality standards poses an analytical challenge. The Napue and Brady errors cannot all be collectively analyzed under Napue’s “reasonable likelihood” standard, as that would overweight the Brady violations. On the other hand, they cannot be considered in two separate groups, as that would fail to capture their combined effect on our confidence HAMILTON v. AYERS 13597 viewed collectively, however, the suppressed evidence at issue does not reveal a reasonable probability that the result of Hamilton’s trial would have been different. Indeed, compared to the overwhelming evidence of Hamilton’s guilt, the allegedly suppressed evidence is relatively insignificant. First, the jury received ample evidence of the connections between Gilbert’s family and Detective Salazar. The significance of any additional evidence regarding these connections appears minimal and is unlikely to have altered the jury’s assessment of the evidence. Second, the State convincingly explains that Gilbert was not forced to conform his testimony to a “scripted” statement. The prosecution’s treatment of Gilbert subsequent to Lilly Bardsley’s identification of him as the third participant in the purchase of the shotgun at K-Mart appears consistent with a general and unsurprising concern that Gilbert might not have testified truthfully. Indeed, had Gilbert been unable to confirm his whereabouts on the Halloween evening the shotgun was purchased, the prosecution may well have been justified in in the jury’s decision. To resolve this conflict, we first consider the Napue violations collectively and ask whether there is “any reasonable likelihood that the false testimony could have affected the judgment of the jury.” Hayes, 399 F.3d at 985 (emphasis added). If so, habeas relief must be granted. However, if the Napue errors are not material standing alone, we consider all of the Napue and Brady violations collectively and ask whether “there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different.” Bagley, 473 U.S. at 682, 105 S. Ct. 3375 (emphasis added) (internal quotation marks omitted); United States v. Zuno-Arce, 25 F. Supp. 2d 1087, 1117 (C.D. Cal. 1998) (applying a two-step materiality analysis to combined Brady and Napue claims), aff’d, 339 F.3d 886 (9th Cir. 2003). At both stages, we must ask whether the defendant “received . . . a trial resulting in a verdict worthy of confidence.” Kyles, 514 U.S. at 434, 115 S. Ct. 1555. 513 F.3d at 1076 (alteration in original). 13598 HAMILTON v. AYERS withdrawing the plea agreement, which was conditioned on Gilbert’s honest and truthful testimony at trial. Because Gilbert explained the conditions of his plea agreement in open court, it is clear that everyone, including the jury, knew full well that if Gilbert had lied on the stand, he would have violated the terms of his deal. Thus, as soon as Bardsley identified Gilbert and thereby controverted his testimony, it would have been apparent that Gilbert’s plea agreement was imperiled. Defense counsel’s failure to examine Gilbert on this issue cannot be attributed to the prosecution. Moreover, this situation is markedly distinct from Smith v. Baldwin, in which the “prosecutor informed [a witness] that if he insisted on testifying in accordance with his recantations, the state would seek to set aside his plea agreement in this case, subjecting [him] to capital murder charges.” 510 F.3d 1127, 1136 (9th Cir. 2007) (en banc). Unlike the witness in Smith, Gilbert never attempted to recant his testimony. On the contrary, after Bardsley testified that Gilbert was present at the shotgun purchase, he simply produced alibi witnesses to confirm his consistent statement that he spent the late afternoon and evening trick-or-treating.4 Third, given that Gilbert faced the death penalty in the absence of his plea agreement, the prosecution’s facilitation of Gilbert’s release on bond during the trial appears insignificant. Moreover, Gilbert’s testimony that his release on bail was not part of the plea agreement appears consistent with the statement in his declaration that “the prosecutor said he would not object to the court setting bail, and I accepted the plea bargain.” After all, the court made the ultimate decision regard- 4 Hamilton argues that Gilbert’s initial testimony that he was trick-ortreating with his child is inconsistent with the rebuttal testimony that provided the details of his excursions. However, Hamilton fails to identify any actual conflict, pointing at best to minor and unsurprising discrepancies regarding the timing of Gilbert’s activities. Accordingly, the district court’s factual finding that the “rebuttal witnesses’ testimony was in fact consistent with Gilbert’s testimony on direct examination” is not clearly erroneous. HAMILTON v. AYERS 13599 ing bail, not the prosecution. Regardless, this additional inducement could not have affected the jury’s scrutiny of Gilbert’s testimony, given what the jury already knew about Gilbert’s involvement in the murders and the other inducements he received to testify. Even assuming the prosecution’s failure to correct this testimony at trial implicated Napue, there does not appear to be “ ‘any reasonable likelihood that the false testimony could have affected the judgment of the jury.’ ” Jackson, 513 F.3d at 1078 (quoting Hayes, 399 F.3d at 985). Fourth, while Hamilton argues that the facts are in dispute as to the threats and inducements provided to Gilbert to elicit his testimony, it appears that the only real dispute pertains to the significance of such threats and inducements. To the extent any factual disputes remain, the resolution of these disputes in Hamilton’s favor does not alter the prejudice analysis. Finally, although there is some conflict between Gilbert’s description of the murders in his 1994 declaration and his trial testimony that he looked away when the shots were fired,5 the fact that Gilbert actually watched the shootings is not probative of who pulled the trigger, and it is undisputed that Gilbert and Carolyn were present during the murders. As the State observes, this graphic testimony may have made Gilbert’s testimony even more damaging. 5 In a 1994 declaration, Gilbert described the shooting as follows: I remember Gwendolyn opening the window part-way, swatting away the barrel of the shotgun when it was put through the partially-open window, and after the door was opened the blast of the first shot knocking her in slow motion back and to the side. I can still see her as she fell over, but with her eyes still open and staring straight ahead. Then the second shot knocked her further over, and as she slumped down her hair was caught in the gunrack and she could not fall any more. Hamilton argues that Gilbert’s recollection of the shooting, which conflicts with his testimony at trial that he looked away when the shots are fired, shows that Gilbert was the shooter. 13600 HAMILTON v. AYERS [6] Assuming Hamilton has otherwise identified Brady and Napue violations, he fails to establish that those violations are material. Cf. Jackson, 513 F.3d at 1075-79. In Jackson, we found material violations of Napue where the prosecution’s solicitation of perjured testimony bolstered the credibility of two “key” witnesses, “whereas the truthful testimony would have substantially impeached” those witnesses’ credibility. Id. at 1078. Similarly, in Hayes, in which the “State knowingly presented false evidence to the jury and made false representations to the trial judge as to whether the State had agreed not to prosecute [a lead witness] on his pending felony charges,” 399 F.3d at 978, we also found violations of Napue, reasoning that the witness’s credibility would have been affected if the jury had been informed of the “critical deal,” id. at 987. Gilbert’s testimony was admittedly critical to the prosecution’s case against Hamilton. However, in contrast to both Jackson and Hayes, it is difficult to imagine Gilbert’s credibility being even remotely affected by the correction or clarification of his testimony regarding the prosecution’s involvement in his release on bail. The same is true of Vicki’s possibly false testimony regarding additional benefits she and her fiancé received in exchange for their testimony. Once again, in light of the benefits of which the jury was already aware, the additional benefits would have been cumulative and insignificant. Accordingly, the Napue violations are not collectively material. [7] Similarly, considering all the possible Brady and Napue violations together, there is no reasonable probability that the outcome of the guilt phase of Hamilton’s trial would have been different. The suppressed evidence and possible falsehoods pertained to the details of collateral matters with which the jury was well acquainted. Accordingly, because Hamilton has not shown that his “allegations, if proved, would entitle him to relief,” an evidentiary hearing on these claims was not required. Insyxiengmay, 403 F.3d at 670 (internal quotation marks omitted). HAMILTON v. AYERS 13601 The overwhelming evidence of Hamilton’s guilt only strengthens our conclusion that he was not prejudiced by the alleged Brady and Napue violations. In light of this evidence, defense counsel’s failure to prepare effectively for the penalty phase of Hamilton’s trial is all the more egregious.