Opinion ID: 147192
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Additional Cross-Examination of Officer Palmer

Text: Oaks next argues the district court erred when it refused defense counsel's request for additional cross-examination of Officer Palmer following his re-direct. The Sixth Amendment guarantees a defendant an opportunity for effective cross-examination of witnesses. United States v. Warfield, 97 F.3d 1014, 1024 (8th Cir.1996). However, courts retain wide latitude insofar as the Confrontation Clause is concerned to impose reasonable limits on such cross-examination based on concerns about, among other things, harassment, prejudice, confusion of the issues, the witness'[s] safety, or interrogation that is repetitive or only marginally relevant. Delaware v. Van Arsdall, 475 U.S. 673, 679, 106 S.Ct. 1431, 89 L.Ed.2d 674 (1986); see also United States v. Beckman, 222 F.3d 512, 524 (8th Cir.2000) (same). A Confrontation Clause violation is shown when a defendant demonstrates a reasonable jury might have received a significantly different impression of a witness's credibility had counsel been allowed to pursue the proposed line of cross-examination. Harrington v. Iowa, 109 F.3d 1275, 1277 (8th Cir.1997). A trial court's decision to limit cross-examination will not be reversed unless there has been a clear abuse of discretion and a showing of prejudice to the defendant. United States v. Brown, 110 F.3d 605, 611 (8th Cir.1997). During direct examination, Officer Palmer stated he was unable to see what Oaks threw in the lake because shadows from tall shrubs or trees nearby prevented him from seeing clearly. On cross-examination, defense counsel sought to impeach Palmer by pointing out he had not mentioned shrubbery in his earlier description of the events. On redirect, Palmer reviewed a written statement made near the time of the incident that indicated Oaks threw the item in the direction of weeds and vegetation, and the government argued his earlier statement and trial testimony were consistent. Palmer also testified on redirect the nearest street light was approximately 150 feet from where the four persons were gathered. When defense counsel asked to re-cross examine Palmer more extensively on these points, the district court refused the request. On appeal, Oaks fails to explain what additional questions counsel wished to ask and how the additional cross-examination would have significantly impacted Palmer's credibility. Oaks suggests his counsel wished to revisit the purported discrepancy between shrubbery versus weeds and vegetation, but the issue had been addressed and further cross-examination would have been cumulative. See United States v. Beck, 557 F.3d 619, 621 (8th Cir.2009) (holding the proposed testimony was duplicative and had little impact on the case). Similarly, the alleged scarcity of lighting in the area, which would negatively impact Palmer's ability to accurately see what occurred, was also before the jury in Palmer's prior testimony, and counsel was free to argue the point at closing. See United States v. Wipf, 397 F.3d 677, 683 (8th Cir.2005) (holding the restriction on defendant's cross-examination was permissible, in part, where the defendant was already granted considerable leeway to cross-examine the witness and impeach his credibility). Counsel's additional questions would not have added to the testimony or detracted from Palmer's credibility. Accordingly, the district court did not abuse its discretion in disallowing Oaks's counsel additional cross-examination of Palmer.