Opinion ID: 12712
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Brady Requirements

Text: 27 Although the State is obligated to disclose evidence to the defense, the State need not disgorge every piece of evidence in its possession. Rather, under Brady, the State has an affirmative duty to disclose to the defense evidence that is favorable to the accused and material to guilt. See United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 674, 105 S.Ct. 3375, 3379, 87 L.Ed.2d 481 (1985). Such evidence includes impeachment evidence. Id. at 676, 105 S.Ct. at 3380; see also Wilson v. Whitley, 28 F.3d 433, 435 (5th Cir.1994), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 1091, 115 S.Ct. 754, 130 L.Ed.2d 653 (1995). The State's good or bad faith in withholding favorable evidence is irrelevant. See United States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. 97, 110, 96 S.Ct. 2392, 2400-01, 49 L.Ed.2d 342 (1976). 28 We have held that to state a Brady claim, a defendant must demonstrate that (1) the prosecution suppressed evidence, (2) the evidence was favorable, (3) the evidence was material to either guilt or punishment, and (4) discovery of the allegedly favorable evidence was not the result of a lack of due diligence. See United States v. Mmahat, 106 F.3d 89, 94 (5th Cir.1997); Blackmon v. Scott, 22 F.3d 560, 564 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 1060, 115 S.Ct. 671, 130 L.Ed.2d 604 (1994). The State has no obligation to point the defense toward potentially exculpatory evidence when that evidence is either in the possession of the defendant or can be discovered by exercising due diligence. See United States v. Mmahat, 106 F.3d at 94; Brown v. Cain, 104 F.3d 744, 750 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 117 S.Ct. 1489, 137 L.Ed.2d 699 (1997). Nor is the State obligated under Brady to disclose evidence that is available from other sources. See Blackmon v. Scott, 22 F.3d at 560. 29