Opinion ID: 506169
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Statements by Co-conspirators

Text: 146 Finally, appellant Tarantino argues that the trial court erred in not ordering the government to turn over any Jencks material relating to Nancy Strickland. During the trial, Tarantino's counsel requested discovery of Nancy Strickland's Jencks material so he could use it to aid his decision whether to ask for Lonnie Strickland's recall for re-cross examination or to call Nancy Strickland as a witness for the defense. Tr. 4119. This motion was made after it became apparent that the government was not going to call Nancy Strickland as a government witness. However, just as the Jencks Act does not provide for the discovery of statements by government witnesses prior to their actual testimony, it also does not require production of statements by potential witnesses who in fact do not ultimately testify. United States v. Mills, 810 F.2d 907, 910 (9th Cir.) (Judge, now Justice, Kennedy), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 108 S.Ct. 107, 98 L.Ed.2d 67 (1987); United States v. Cadet, 727 F.2d 1453, 1469 (9th Cir.1984) (abuse of discretion to order production of statements of witnesses the government did not intend to call); United States v. Disston, 612 F.2d 1035, 1038 (7th Cir.1980). 147 Tarantino asserts, nevertheless, that he was entitled to discovery of Nancy Strickland's statements because she was a co-conspirator. Nancy Strickland, an unindicted co-conspirator, was listed as a prospective witness and before trial had made statements to government agents regarding the conspiracy. She was not called by the government to testify, and while it is true that the government did not hinder the defense from interviewing her, the defendants felt, perhaps reasonably, that any attempt to do so would have proved futile. Moreover, although Nancy Strickland was available as a witness for the defense, the defense was understandably reluctant to call her without either a prior interview or knowledge of statements she may have made to the government. Nancy's statements were presented to the district court for review in camera; the court concluded the statements did not contain Brady material and refused to order disclosure. 148 Tarantino's argument in favor of discovery requires a close reading of FED.R.EVID. 801(d)(2)(E) in conjunction with FED.R.CRIM.P. 16(a)(1)(A). Under 801(d)(2)(E), a co-conspirator's statement is attributed on an agency rationale to each of the co-conspirators, and so it is classified as non-hearsay and may be admitted against each co-conspirator as if it were his own statement. And under 16(a)(1)(A), a defendant is entitled to pre-trial discovery of any of his own statements in the government's possession. Thus, because the co-conspirator's statements may be treated as the defendant's own for purposes of hearsay analysis, Tarantino argues they should be discoverable in the same manner as the defendant's own statements. Once it was apparent that Nancy Strickland would not testify for the government and consequently her statements would not be discoverable in accordance with the Jencks Act, Tarantino contends the trial court should have ordered disclosure. 149 Even though the Jencks Act explicitly provides that statements of witnesses or prospective witnesses, including co-conspirators, are not discoverable until after the witness testifies, some courts have ordered disclosure of co-conspirator statements where the prosecution does not propose to put the co-conspirator on the stand. See United States v. Konefal, 566 F.Supp. 698, 705-07 (N.D.N.Y.1983) (citing cases in accord); 2 C. WRIGHT, FEDERAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE Sec. 253 at 50 (2d ed. 1982) (citing cases). 150 We believe, however, that we are without authority to order such discovery. Nothing in the Federal Rules of Evidence or in the Jencks Act requires such disclosure--we think it clear that as used in Fed.R.Crim.P. 16(a)(1)(A) the phrase statements made by the defendant does not include statements made by co-conspirators of the defendant, even if those statements can be attributed to the defendant for purposes of the rule against hearsay. Once appellant's imaginative reading of 16(a)(1)(A) is rejected, no other authority is suggested for this type of discovery order. Under our law, the adversary system is the primary means by which truth is uncovered. Bagley, 473 U.S. at 675, 105 S.Ct. at 3380. We decline to extend the defendant's right to discovery beyond that required by statute or the Constitution. We note this result is in agreement with every other circuit that has examined the question. See United States v. Orr, 825 F.2d 1537 (11th Cir.1987); United States v. Roberts, 811 F.2d 257 (4th Cir.1987) (en banc); United States v. Percevault, 490 F.2d 126 (2d Cir.1974); see also 8 J. MOORE, MOORE'S FEDERAL PRACTICE p 16.04 at 16-54, 55 (2d ed. Nov. 1986 Rev.).