Legal Document

540 U.S. 544 ILLINOISv.FISHER No. 03-374. Supreme Court of United States. Decided February 23, 2004. After Chicago police conducted four tests on a white powdery substance seized during respondent's arrest, he was charged with possession cocaine and filed discovery motion for all physical evidence the State intended to use at trial. He then fled while released bail, court issued an arrest warrant. When that warrant finally executed 10 years later, reinstated charge, informing respondent police, acting under established procedures, had destroyed his arrest. Respondent formally requested production moved dismiss charge based destruction evidence. The trial denied motion, convicted. Appellate reversed, holding Due Process Clause required dismissal finding such result not foreclosed by Arizona v. Youngblood, 488 51, 58, in which this held "unless criminal defendant can show bad faith part failure preserve potentially useful does constitute denial due process law." Held: has failed establish violation. While prosecution's good or is irrelevant when suppresses fails disclose material exculpatory evidence, Youngblood recognizes relevant dealing State's "potentially evidence." here plainly latter sort At most, could hope fifth test would have exonerated him. did allege, nor find, acted destroying substance. To contrary, testing inculpated respondent, accord their normal practice. This never suggested existence pending request eliminates necessity bad-faith showing. Nor agree apply contested defendant's only exoneration essential case's outcome. requirement's applicability depends evidence's centrality case, but distinction between "material exculpatory" useful" U.S., 57-58. Certiorari granted; reversed remanded. ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE APPELLATE COURT ILLINOIS, FIRST DISTRICT. PER CURIAM. 1 Illinois Fourteenth Amendment's charges because according more than earlier motion. Petitioner, Illinois, contends our decision 51 (1988). There we Id., 58. We petitioner, grant petition certiorari leave proceed forma pauperis, reverse judgment Court. 2 In September 1988, arrested course traffic stop observed him furtively attempting conceal plastic bag containing Four Police Crime Lab confirmed from contained cocaine. 3 Circuit Cook County October 1988. eight days later requesting responded be made available reasonable time date upon request. bond July 1989, however, appear court, secure presence. remained fugitive over years, apparently settling Tennessee. outstanding November 1999, after detained unrelated matter. 1988 cocaine-possession charge. 4 Before trial, informed thereupon case proceeded jury introduced tending prove facts recounted above. Respondent's chief consisted solely own testimony, ever possessed insinuated "framed" crime. returned verdict guilty, sentenced one year imprisonment. 5 conviction, Relying Court's Newberry, 166 Ill. 2d 310, 652 N. E. 288 (1995), reasoned: 6 "`Where defense notice must preserved, make independent showing value order If proceeds destroy appropriate sanctions may imposed even if inadvertent. No necessary.'" App. Pet. Cert. 12 (quoting supra, 317, 2d, 292) (citation omitted original). 7 Newberry distinguished ground subsequent defendant. 13. acknowledging "there nothing record indicate alleged faith," id., 15, further determined dictated because, unlike provided "only exoneration," "`essential determinative outcome case,'" 16 315, 291). Consequently, concluded "was tried cocaine." 16. appeal.* 8 prosecution irrelevant: violation occurs whenever withheld. See Brady Maryland, 373 U. S. 83 (1963); States Agurs, 427 97 (1976). contrast, recognized "requires different deal evidentiary no said it been subjected tests, results might defendant." 57. evidence" violate police." 58 (emphasis added). 9 referred addressed Agurs. that, S., But they Quite indicated chemical makeup inculpated, exculpated, see 57, n., undisputed "good practice," 56 (internal quotation marks omitted) California Trombetta, 467 479, (1984), turn quoting Killian States, 368 231, 242 (1961)). Under then, police. Indeed, reached demonstrates why per se rule negate very reason adopted requirement first place: "limi[t] extent police's obligation grounds confin[e] class cases where interests justice most clearly require it." 11 also disagree provides exoneration" case.'" 15-16 (citing Appeals "could [have] eliminate[d] as perpetrator." 54 (quotation citations omitted). Similarly here, additional opportunity were mistaken. It thus difficult distinguish two basis. any event, depended defense, As held, 548, was, best, therefore Youngblood's applies. remanded proceedings inconsistent opinion. 13 so ordered. Notes: * suggests lack jurisdiction relied onNewberry, adequate state ground. See, e. g., Michigan Long, 463 1032, 1040-1042 (1983). correct both Clause, alternative, Rule 415(g)(i) (1990). 314-317, 290-292. Court, portion process, its Clause. Accordingly, review decision. 1038, n. ("We decided federal clear there properly relied" Beecher Alabama, 389 35, 37, (1967) (per curiam))). 14 JUSTICE STEVENS, concurring judgment. 15 I join three Justices who dissented (1988), declined majority opinion convinced remain today, well unable loss nonetheless critical fundamentally unfair." 61 (STEVENS, J., judgment).* This, like case. Neither merited however. limited precedential value, remand supported state-law People (1995). ante, my writ should denied. focus subjective motivation represents break usual understanding presence absence constitutional error suppression character person withholds it. 97, 110 Since decided, number courts matter law faith. Connecticut explained, "[f]airness dictates person's liberty stake, sole fact whether another official failing cannot received Morales, 232 Conn. 707, 723, 657 A. 585, 593 (1995) (footnote Ferguson, W. 3d 912, 916-917 (Tenn. 1999); Osakalumi, 194 Va. 758, 765-767, 461 504, 511-512 (1995); Delisle, 162 Vt. 293, 309, 648 632, 642 (1994); Ex parte Gingo, 605 So. 1237, 1241 (Ala. 1992); Commonwealth Henderson, 411 Mass. 310-311, 582 496, 497 (1991); Matafeo, 71 Haw. 183, 186-187, 787 P. 671, 673 (1990); Hammond State, 569 81, 87 (Del. 1989); Thorne Department Public Safety, 774 1326, 1330, (Alaska 1989).

Classification Label: 3