Court Opinion

ID: 8641917
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-24 20:15:31.337493+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:55:59.434795
License: Public Domain

DeFORD, Judge,
dissenting:
I cannot agree with the majority’s conclusion that the appellant made a showing of materiality with regard to an in-court motion to require the Government to produce the laboratory technicians that examined the drug substances seized from the appellant.
The operative facts under which this allegation of error is reviewed are as follows:
The appellant pled not guilty but was found to be guilty of larceny, wrongful possession of mandrax, possession of marijuana and sale of marijuana.
Prior to the trial, trial defense counsel advised the Government that the appellant would make no stipulations concerning any matters in the case and was in turn advised that the Government would seek to introduce the laboratory reports which indicated that mandrax and hashish seized from the appellant were in fact the substances indicated. Trial defense counsel further advised the Government that he would object to the admission of the laboratory reports as he believed that they were prepared with a view to prosecution and he stated he wanted to see if the Government could produce all the witnesses. The defense did not request the presence of the laboratory technicians during the pretrial processing of the case or at any Article 39, 10 U.S.C. § 839 sessions held by the court.
During the trial the trial defense counsel objected to the admission into evidence of the laboratory examination reports concerning the hashish and mandrax seized from the appellant (R. 91). In support of the defense motion the trial defense counsel stated as a basis for his objection that the reports were hearsay and prepared with a *774view to prosecution. Then the following colloquy took place between the trial defense counsel and the trial judge:
“DC: . . . The defense would exercise its right set forth at 49 CMR 380, in the Miller case, which states, ‘As a business entry is admissible without the in-person testimony of the declarant, the accused can assert his right to cross-examination by calling the declarant as a witness and examining him on the statement as if under cross-examination.’ We do not have either one of the proponents of these two lab reports in court today. The defense also asserts a violation of its Sixth Amendment right to cross-examination, and objects to the documents on that basis as well.
MJ: Your objections are overruled on all grounds except the last, concerning which I will ask you if you gave the Government notice that you wanted to cross-examine the individuals who prepared these reports.
DC: Yes, Your Honor, I did in this fashion. I gave the Government notice that I would not stipulate to any documents.
MJ: Your objection is overruled. They will be received.
TC: May we have a brief recess at this time?
MJ: Very well.
(The court recessed at 1425 hours, 27 May 1976.)
(The court opened at 1440 hours, 27 May 1976.)
MJ: The court will come to order.
TC: Let the record reflect that all parties present when the court recessed are again present in court.
DC: I would like to add something to the last motion. I would like to add that I did notify the Government in this fashion. I informed the Government that I would not stipulate to anything, and the Government asked me why. I said that I did not think the accused is willing to and, in addition, I wanted to see if they could get all of the guys here. I said, You may not be able to get all of the guys here. The Government informed me that they would try to introduce the lab reports as business entries, and I said, ‘You know that I am going to object to that, and I think they are prepared with a view to prosecution,’ or words to that effect, etc., etc.
In addition, the defense now makes a specific request for the lab examiners for the purpose of cross-examination.
MJ: Mr. Prosecutor?
TC: Basically correct, Your Honor, but nothing that was said was interpreted as a request that certain people be brought here.
MJ: Captain Wells, what do you expect to be able to establish by cross-examination of the laboratory technicians?
DC: Your Honor, it has been my experience in this jurisdiction that occasionally a number of drugs which are alleged to be certain drugs field test one way and test in the lab the other way. Cocaine is a striking example, or has been historically. I think it is quite possible that one of these drugs tests out to be something other than the drug claimed on the sheet. In addition, Your Honor, I would like some assurance that the lab examiner did not mess up and put one CID report number on another report, and switch numbers or switch evidence by accident or anything of that nature. If he was here in person, then we could, of course, establish that in his report he is describing the same items which were sent by people who have testified in court today.
MJ: I believe that your request for the witnesses is out of time, Captain Wells, and I am going to adhere to my previous ruling overruling your objection, and I am going to deny your objection. I am going to deny your motion.”
Under the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution, one accused of a crime is guaranteed the right to compel the attendance of *775witnesses.1 Who these witnesses shall be is a matter for the accused and his counsel.2
However, the right to compel the attendance of witnesses is not an absolute or unqualified right in that it makes considerations of relevancy and materiality.3
Each request must be considered on an ad hoc basis. Once materiality is shown, the Government must produce the witness or abate the proceedings.4
The foregoing rules are all applicable to timely requests for defense witnesses pursuant to provisions of the Manual.5
In Sweeney, supra the Court noted that paragraph 115, and Article 46 of the Code conform to Rule 17(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and that the right vested in a defendant was not absolute. The Court stated that wide discretion is vested in a district court judge in the matter of subpoenaing witnesses under Rule 17(b). The Court cited with authority an excerpt from Greenwell v. United States6 wherein that Court found error in the denial of a request for a witness and, without reversing the decision of the lower Court, remanded for a determination of whether the error was harmless or prejudicial stating:
“Thus if the accused avers facts which, if true, would be relevant to any issue in the case, the requests for subpoenas must be granted, unless the averments are inherently incredible on their face, or unless the Government shows, either by introducing evidence or from matters already of record, that the averments are untrue or that the request is otherwise frivolous.” (Greenwell v. United States, at page 110).
Keeping these general rules in mind we must next consider their application when considered in light of the admissibility of crime lab reports as the business entry exception to the hearsay rule. In United States v. Evans7 it was established that a “crime laboratory” is a place in which scientific methods and principles are applied in the testing and analysis of various items in connection with the detection and prosecution of crimes, the recording of the results of its analysis and the making of its reports to those concerned and actions taken in the regular course of the laboratory’s business; hence, the report is within the business exception to the hearsay rule. However, the accused still has a qualified right8 to challenge the report’s accuracy by summoning the analyst and attacking the regularity of the testing procedures or the competency of the tester, these factors affect the weight and not the admissibility of the evidence.9
Here the trial defense counsel’s objections were clearly aimed at precluding the laboratory reports admission into evidence on the basis that they were prepared with a view to prosecution. The Government had established the foundation for the report’s admission and the trial judge properly admitted them in evidence.
The posture of the evidence in the case at the time the trial defense counsel made his *776request for the production of the chemists was that the trial defense counsel had sought to force the Government to prove every element of the prosecution’s case through the vehicle of live witnesses. His avowed statements indicate he had hoped the Government would “stumble” on their own evidence. This trial tactic is not unknown in the defense of criminal cases but seldom productive.
In addition, the trial defense counsel had showed that the three bags containing hashish could have been subject to opening and resealing without notice.10
Following the Government resting its case, the defense offered nothing further concerning the issue other than a stipulation that nothing was found during a search of appellant’s person and automobile.
I view the defense counsel’s attempt to stop the trial and summon the lab chemists to testify without making any showing of materiality as a mere pretext for a fishing expedition. He had no demonstrated material basis to substantiate his request for the witnesses. The trial defense counsel was well aware of the Government tactics with regard to the lab reports. He could have filed a request for the witness in question with a supporting statement to show his materiality had he had one.
Procedures for the acquisition of witnesses are prescribed to insure that Government funds are not unnecessarily wasted and to insure that the appellant receives the witnesses necessary for his defense. Discovery is not appropriate during the trial phase of the proceedings nor can it be a substitute for proper pretrial investigation.
Accordingly, I view the appellant’s request for the laboratory chemists under these circumstances as frivolous and am of the opinion that the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in denying the appellant’s request.11

. United States v. Sweeney, 14 U.S.C.M.A. 599, 34 C.M.R. 379 (1964).

. Id. See also Article 46, Uniform Code of Military Justice.

. United States v. Iturralde-Aponte, 1 M.J. 196 (1975); United States v. Daniels, 23 U.S.C.M.A. 94, 48 C.M.R. 655 (1974).

. United States v. Willis, 3 M.J. 94 (C.M.A. 1977); United States v. Carpenter, 1 M.J. 384 (C.M.A.1976).

. Paragraphs 48d and 115, Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, 1969 (Revised edition).

. 115 U.S.App.D.C. 44, 317 F.2d 108 (1963) (petition for rehearing en banc denied).

. United States v. Evans, 21 U.S.C.M.A. 579, 45 C.M.R. 353 (1972); see also United States v. Miller, 23 U.S.C.M.A. 247, 49 C.M.R. 380 (1974).

. Right to summon witnesses at Government expense is subject to a showing of materiality. See footnote 5 supra, and Rule 17(b), Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.

. Evans, supra at 582, 45 C.M.R. at 356.

. The defense offered no evidence to indicate that the hashish may have been adulterated or otherwise changed prior to receipt by the laboratory but merely that the plastic bags containing the evidence could have been opened. On the other hand, the Government’s evidence on this issue was that the evidence received from the laboratory was essentially in the same form as when it had been forwarded. The trial judge was only required to be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that there was a reasonable probability that the evidence had not been changed in any important respect. United States v. Martinez, 43 C.M.R. 434, 437 (A.C.M.R.1970). The appellant concedes in his brief that tampering had not occurred in the chain of custody prior to forwarding the evidence to the crime laboratory. I perceive the foregoing as a poor substitute for a convincing offer of proof of evidence of adulteration, substitution, or other change in form.

. See Bandy v. United States, 296 F.2d 882 (C.A. 8th Cir.1961), cert. denied 369 U.S. 831, 82 S.Ct. 849, 7 L.Ed.2d 796.