Legal Document

469 U.S. 45 105 S.Ct. 465 83 L.Ed.2d 450 UNITED STATES, Petitioner,v.John Clyde ABEL. No. 83-935. Argued Nov. 7, 1984. Decided Dec. 10, Syllabus Respondent and two cohorts were indicted for bank robbery. The pleaded guilty but respondent went to trial. One of the cohorts, Ehle, agreed testify against respondent. informed District Court that he would seek counter Ehle's testimony with one Mills, who after robbery Ehle had admitted Mills intended implicate falsely, in order receive favorable treatment from Government. prosecutor turn disclosed discredit Mills' by calling back stand respondent, all members a secret prison gang was sworn perjury self-protection on each member's behalf. When, upon being cross-examined prosecutor, denied knowledge gang, as permitted Court, recalled testified he, described its tenets. jury convicted Appeals reversed, holding rebuttal not just show respondent's membership might cause color his also because belonged must be lying stand. court further held implicated member since did take stand, could have been offered impeach him prejudiced "by mere association." Held: evidence showing sufficiently probative possible bias towards warrant admission into evidence. Pp. 49-56. (a) While Federal Rules Evidence do their terms deal impeachment "bias," it is clear contemplate such impeachment. It permissible witness under so before adoption. Here, about certainly made existence more probable, thus relevant support inference. A witness' party's common an organization, even without proof or party has personally adopted tenets, bias. Scales v. United States, 367 203, 81 1469, 6 782, Brandenburg Ohio, 395 444, 89 1827, 23 430, distinguished. 49-53. (b) abuse discretion Rule 403 admitting full description type organization which share may attributes bore directly only fact source strength 53-55. (c) error 608(b) allows cross-examiner asking specific instances past conduct, other than crimes covered 609, are veracity—to cross-examine show, addition bias, conduct bearing veracity. Nor admit concerning gang. proffered respect sufficed potential favor, extrinsic admissible true gang's tenets described, impeached veracity directly. But there no rule provides purpose inadmissible another thereby rendered inadmissible. 55-56. 707 F.2d 1013 (CA9 1983), reversed. Stephen S. Trott, Los Angeles, Cal., petitioner. Yolanda Barrera Gomez, Justice REHNQUIST delivered opinion Court. 1 divided panel Ninth Circuit reversed conviction robbery.1 improperly witnesses. We hold err, we reverse. 2 John Abel robbing savings loan Bellflower, violation 18 U.S.C. §§ 2113(a) (d). elected plead guilty, Kurt identify participant 3 at pretrial conference Robert Mills. friendly spent time both prison. planned eliciting "Aryan Brotherhood," required always deny commit perjury, theft, murder 4 Defense counsel objected too prejudicial After lengthy discussion chambers decided permit if introduce it. value outweighed effect, entitled limiting instruction submit court. 5 At trial called told falsely. When sought conferred again outside jury's presence, ordered use term Brotherhood" unduly prejudicial. Accordingly, asked "secret organization" creed requiring lie other. Ehle. indeed whose "lie, cheat, steal [and] kill" protect sustained defense objection question punishment violating organization's rules. then "in view how close were" "suicide" what attributed him. Respondent's request none given. 7 On appeal (1983). same group testimony; contested perjurious This suggestion based tenet, impermissible. reasoned: 8 "It settled law government convict individual merely belonging advocates illegal activity. 219-24 [81 1481-83, 782] . .; Brandenb[u]rg 444 [89 430]. Rather, knows accepts organization. Neither should allowed grounds membership, more, value. establishes nothing individual's own actions, beliefs, veracity." Id., 1013, 1016 (citations omitted). 9 concluded gang; 1017. 10 Thus within Court's testimony, wrong concluding otherwise. 11 Both parties correctly assume, Appeals, governed Evidence. although they expressly treat character 608, crime, religious beliefs opinion, 610. suggested significance attribute this fact. Although nominally promulgators Rules, theory need consult our collective memories analyze situation properly, truth conduit when undertaking substantial preparation In case these too, remembered Congress extensively reviewed submission, considerably revised See 28 2076, 2076; J. Bailey III & O. Trelles II, Evidence: Legislative Histories Related Documents (1980). 12 Before present promulgated, admissibility federal courts part statutes law. See, e.g., Fed.Rule Civ.Proc. 43(a) (prior 1975 amendment); Crim.Proc. 26 Palmer Hoffman, 318 109, 63 477, 87 L.Ed. 645 (1943); Funk 290 371, 54 212, 78 369 (1933); Shepard 96, 22, 196 (1933). Alford 282 687, 51 218, 75 624 (1931), allow some cross-examination accord overwhelming weight authority state reflected Wigmore's classic treatise id. 691, S.Ct., 219, citing Wigmore, § 1368 (2d ed. 1923); see Columbia Clawans, 300 617, 630-633, 57 660, 664-666, 843 (1937). Our decision Davis Alaska, 415 308, 94 1105, 39 347 (1974), holds Confrontation Clause Sixth Amendment requires defendant opportunity prosecution witness. 13 With unanimity confronting drafters Evidence, think unlikely scuttle entirely evidentiary availability commentator, recognizing omission any express prejudice, corruption, observes "clearly above-mentioned impeachment." E. Cleary, McCormick 40, p. 85 (3d 1984). Other commentators, mentioning omission, established basis Rules. D. Louisell C. Mueller, 341, 470 (1979); Weinstein M. Berger, Weinstein's ¶ 607[03] (1981). 14 conclusion obviously correct. 401 defines "relevant evidence" having tendency make consequence determination action probable less 402 admissible, except otherwise provided States Constitution, Act Congress, applicable rule. successful facts eyes testimony. 15 correctness confirmed references Advisory Committee Notes 608 610, provisions allowing attack credibility 607, "matters affecting witness" 611(b). Courts upheld adoption James, 609 36, 46 (CA2 1979), cert. denied, 445 905, 100 1082, 321 (1980); Frankenthal, 582 1102, 1106 (CA7 1978); Brown, 547 438, 445-446 (CA8), sub nom. Hendrix 430 937, 97 1566, 784 (1977); Harvey, 720, 722 1976); Robinson, 174 U.S.App.D.C. 224, 227-228, 530 1076, 1079-1080 (1976); Blackwood, 456 526, (CA2), 409 863, 93 154, 34 110 (1972). 16 lesson drawn connection, comment Reporter drafted apropos: 17 "In principle, remains. 'All provided. .' reality, course, body continues exist, though somewhat altered form guidance exercise delegated powers." Preliminary Reading Neb.L.Rev. 908, 915 (1978) (footnote probable. Bias used "common describe relationship between lead slant, unconsciously otherwise, favor party. induced like, dislike, fear party, self-interest. Proof almost jury, finder weigher credibility, historically assess bear accuracy evidence, while "take answer favored forms generally supra, 89; Hale, Affecting Credibility, Hastings L.J. (1949). 19 Aryan Brotherhood supported inference slanted perhaps fabricated favor. read holdings 782 (1961), (1969), require different conclusion. Those cases dealt constitutional requirements convicting persons Smith syndicalism laws organizations espoused aims engaged conduct. either subject sanction disbelieved. Under circumstances requirement shown subscribed casually manner sufficient those involved Brandenburg.2 For purposes draw subscription alone, beyond reasonable doubt criminal Act. 20 argues erred permitting odious contends abused 4033, effect words, inflamed chance association 21 specifically precise murderous group. suggests cut off elicited knew together. argument ignores If loosely knit matter litigation, arising small nonexistent. Book Month Club, probably inferred Brotherhood—a sect self-protection—bore showed powerful motive slant outright. 22 district accorded wide determining Assessing particular group, weighing factors counseling first court's sound judgment ultimately, admitted, trier gave heed extensive arguments counsel, bench. attempt avoid undue prejudice name used. give objections prosecutor's questions meted out unfaithful members. These precautions prevent did, ensure highly 24 makes additional 608(b). That "character truthfulness untruthfulness."4 limits inquiry witness, however, prohibits introducing 25 claims offer 608(b), contends, truthfulness. cites second Rule, contending impugn veracity, barred appears accepted least part. said: 27 "Ehle's simply Abel's 'cause [Mills], consciously testimony.' Rather well 'will members,' stand." F.2d, 1016. seems us respondent; inadmissible; quite contrary case. strange relevant, competent tended nonetheless liar. 29 intimate whether ascribed instance proved enough properly found 30 Reversed. (9th Cir.1983). discussed First right freely associate political groups, short participating unlawful U.S., 449, 1830; 229-230, 1486-1487. Whatever associational rights inmate join Jones North Carolina Prisoners' Labor Union, Inc., 433 119, 2532, 53 629 (1977), provides: "Although excluded substantially danger unfair confusion issues, misleading considerations waste time, needless presentation cumulative evidence." pertinent part: "(b) Specific conduct.—Specific attacking supporting crime They may, court, untruthfulness, inquired (1) untruthfulness ."

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