Opinion ID: 541134
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: lost transcript

Text: 15 Tape 2 from the afternoon of August 27, 1986, has been identified as the missing tape. The missing testimony is that of defense witness John Christian, Carrillo's investigator, taken from 3:43 p.m. to 4:19 p.m., and 4:50 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (a total of forty-six minutes), and part of the direct examination of prosecution witness Sgt. Stine from 4:19 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. (a total of thirty-one minutes). Deputy Knight was also recalled during this period to confirm that he had marked Exhibit 2 in black ink. Trial counsel for Carrillo believes that Officer Renteria testified during this period, although this is disputed by the government. 16 After hearing evidence from the court reporter and both parties, and proposing a reconstruction of the missing testimony, the trial court denied Carrillo's motion to dismiss or in the alternative to preclude further testimony. Following the trial, the court permitted further testimony from Deputy Knight, Sgt. Stine, and John Christian, and also supplemented Stine's suppression hearing testimony with his trial testimony. 17 Carrillo argues that his conviction should be reversed because he has suffered significant prejudice on appeal due to the loss of the tape. Specifically, Carrillo contends he is prejudiced because: (1) the testimony of Sgt. Stine during the post-trial proceedings was materially different from the testimony he offered during the original hearing on the motion to suppress; 3 and (2) he is represented by different counsel on appeal. Carrillo argues that at the very least, the case must be remanded for further proceedings before the district court to determine precisely whose testimony was lost, the quality of the testimony, and the resulting prejudice to Carrillo. 18 A criminal defendant has a right to a record on appeal which includes a complete transcript of the proceedings at trial. Hardy v. United States, 375 U.S. 277, 279-82, 84 S.Ct. 424, 426-28, 11 L.Ed.2d 331 (1964). Nevertheless, while court reporters are required by the Court Reporters Act, 28 U.S.C. Sec. 753(b)(1) (1982), to record verbatim all proceedings in open court, their failure to do so does not require a per se rule of reversal. United States v. Doyle, 786 F.2d 1440, 1442 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 984, 107 S.Ct. 572, 93 L.Ed.2d 576 (1986) (citations omitted). Rather, some prejudice to the defendant must occur before reversal will be contemplated. Id. 19 The Ninth Circuit has not yet articulated a precise standard of review for prejudice where a portion of the trial transcript has been lost. The government urges the adoption of the Fourth Circuit standard for prejudice: [t]he appellant must demonstrate that the missing portion of the transcript specifically prejudices his appeal before relief will be granted. United States v. Gillis, 773 F.2d 549, 554 (4th Cir.1985). 20 We adopted a similar specific prejudice standard in United States v. Anzalone, 886 F.2d 229, 232 (9th Cir.1989), wherein the defendant alleged inaccurate recording and transcription of the first four days of trial. The trial court found that the transcripts, while of poor quality, reported the proceedings with reasonable completeness and substantial accuracy. The trial judge further stated that he found no errors or omissions that would in any degree prejudice the defendant on appeal. Id. 21 On appeal, we noted that [a]lthough this court has not expressly stated the standard of review for this type of claim, a trial court's factual finding that transcripts are accurate and complete cannot be disturbed unless clearly erroneous. Id. (citing Maine v. Taylor, 477 U.S. 131, 144-45, 106 S.Ct. 2440, 2450-51, 91 L.Ed.2d 110 (1986)). [A]ssuming there were omissions in the transcripts, appellant cannot prevail without a showing of specific prejudice. Id. If the trial court's certification that the transcripts are accurate and complete is not clearly erroneous, no specific prejudice can be shown. Id. We adopt this statement for purposes of this appeal. 22 Following the hearing to reconstruct the lost testimony, the trial court found that there were no relevant or material parts of Sergeant Stine's testimony on August 27th which are not now fully of record as a result of [the supplemental hearing] and his hearing at trial. The court also found that there was nothing of any material or relevant sense that is not now of record in referring to the reconstruction testimony of Mr. Christian. The trial judge concluded: I further find that nothing that I have heard today, whether it was evidence previously offered or new evidence, would in any way alter my findings, conclusions, or rulings on the motion to suppress made by defendant Carrillo, and I reaffirm those findings, conclusions and decision. 23 Applying the standards articulated in Gillis and Anzalone, Carrillo has presented no evidence which suggests that the trial court's finding that the recreated testimony was essentially accurate and complete was clearly erroneous. In addition, the district court's minutes indicate that Officer Renteria did not testify on August 27, 1986, and Carrillo has not presented any evidence to the contrary, nor does he claim prejudice due to the alleged loss of that testimony. Carrillo has not shown that the trial court's certification was clearly erroneous nor has he shown specific prejudice on appeal. Not only did the district court find the reconstructed record complete, it reaffirmed its findings, conclusion, and decision on the motion to suppress. We thus have before us the ruling and record on which it was based. We consider it insignificant in this context that Carrillo is represented by different counsel on appeal. Accordingly, we turn now to the merits.