Opinion ID: 466309
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: White's Claim

Text: 19 White argues that use of this deposition violated his fifth amendment privilege against self-incrimination where, as here, he did not testify in his own behalf at his criminal trial. 20 This claim is frivolous. The fifth amendment privilege is not ordinarily self-executing and must be affirmatively claimed by a person whenever self-incrimination is threatened. Minnesota v. Murphy, 465 U.S. 420, 429, 104 S.Ct. 1136, 1143, 79 L.Ed.2d 409 (1984). An individual may lose the benefit of the privilege inadvertently, without a knowing and intelligent waiver. Garner v. United States, 424 U.S. 648, 654 n. 9, 96 S.Ct. 1178, 1182 n. 9, 47 L.Ed.2d 370 (1976). White did so when he gave his deposition. 21 White claims further that his deposition testimony was not voluntary. He argues that it was compelled because he was subpoenaed to appear. This argument is equally meritless. In Murphy, the Supreme Court made clear that an obligation to appear and testify truthfully does not constitute compulsion to give incriminating testimony. The privilege may still be asserted at the proceeding and must be to avoid waiver of the privilege. See Murphy, 465 U.S. at 427-28, 104 S.Ct. at 1142. 22 Because White's statements at the deposition were voluntary, they were clearly admissible against him as party admissions under Federal Rule of Evidence 801(d)(2)(A). See, e.g., United States v. O'Connor, 737 F.2d 814, 821 (9th Cir.1984), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 105 S.Ct. 1198, 84 L.Ed.2d 343 (1985).