Opinion ID: 533777
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Did the Prosecutor Improperly Invoke the Credibility of the Government

Text: 42 In his closing argument, Newton's attorney insinuated that the government was embarrassed because it had no evidence against Newton. The government was going forward, he argued, because it could rely on the jury to determine if Newton was guilty or not. While defense counsel did not accuse the government lawyers of lying, he certainly implied that the government was prosecuting a meritless case and, in essence, that the government was framing the defendants. In his rebuttal, the prosecutor stated: 43 There was one overriding tone to Mr. Hoffman's summation and that was that the government is in some sort of conspiracy here to prosecute and to convict two innocent people. There was talk about embarrassment to the government if we don't prove our case.... In fact the statement was made that we would put anyone on trial and we could justify it because the jury decides. If you believe that, ladies and gentlemen, throw the case out. If you believe that the government, the United States government of which we are all part is framing these people, don't hesitate, don't make them wait. Just throw the case out. 44 A. 1501-1502. 45 The defendants claim that in this statement that the prosecutor impermissibly used the government's credibility to strengthen its case against the defendants, thereby depriving them of a fair trial. Defendants rely primarily on United States v. Gonzalez-Vargas, 558 F.2d 631 (1st Cir.1977), where we reversed a conviction because the prosecutor had inserted his own credibility into the closing argument. In that case, the prosecutor stated his personal belief that the defendants were guilty four times in a very short closing argument and at least once in rebuttal. After the first instance, the defendant objected, and the court ruled the statements were permissible. Gonzalez-Vargas was a much more flagrant case than the one before us because the prosecutor's self-serving credibility statements dominated the closing. He injected his personal views into the case, although he was completely unprovoked and there were no other extenuating circumstances. 46 The government asserts that the statements made by the prosecutor in his rebuttal were merely an invited response to the defendant's attack relying, on United States v. Young, 470 U.S. 1, 105 S.Ct. 1038, 84 L.Ed.2d 1 (1985). In Young, the Court ruled that the issue is not the prosecutor's license to make otherwise improper arguments, but whether the prosecutor's 'invited response,' taken in context, unfairly prejudiced the defendant. Id. at 12, 105 S.Ct. at 1045. 47 We have repeatedly stated that government attorneys must not use the tremendous personal credibility that inures to them because they represent the government. Gonzalez-Vargas, 558 F.2d at 633. But we have also recognized that even the misuse of that power is not necessarily reversible error. Id. at 633 (and cases cited therein). One extenuating circumstance that we have consistently recognized is provocation by the defense. Id. 48 Although we do not condone even minor impermissible statements by prosecutors, 11 taken in context of the entire closing, and in response to the main thrust of defendant's argument, the prosecutor's remark was not reversible error. The infraction was relatively minor and did not unfairly prejudice the defendant. In addition, the judge gave a corrective instruction that the jury should not give the prosecutor undue credibility simply because he represented the government. 49