Court Opinion

ID: 9488303
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 12:41:44.046813+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:52:48.941853
License: Public Domain

DAVID A. NELSON, Circuit Judge,
dissenting.
The magistrate judge expressly found that the government’s violation of the discovery order was negligent. This finding was not clearly erroneous, in my view. I also think it was within the province of the district court to find that suppression of the video tape and agent’s notes was the least severe sanction likely to deter similar acts of negligence in the future. Accordingly, and having regard not only to the nature of the evidence in question but also to the fact that its suppression would not preclude the government from presenting oral testimony as to the defendant’s inculpatory statements, I cannot say that the district court abused its discretion in accepting the recommendation that the video tape and notes be suppressed. See United States v. Glover, 846 F.2d 339, 342 (6th Cir.), cert, denied, 488 U.S. 982, 109 S.Ct. 533, 102 L.Ed.2d 565 (1988). (As far as the agent’s notes are concerned, incidently, it is far from clear that the notes would have been admissible in any event.) I would affirm the district court’s order.