Court Opinion

ID: 9472834
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 04:12:11.7588+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:43:10.501404
License: Public Domain

HEANEY, Circuit Judge,
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I concur in the majority opinion insofar as it holds that, on remand, the district court may undertake an inquiry into the facts without violating the informant privilege by holding an in camera proceeding without the presence of government agents or counsel for either party. It was not an abuse of discretion, however, for the district court to go a step further and permit counsel for the defendant to be present and conduct the inquiry. That court is familiar with counsel and obviously felt that he could be trusted to follow the court’s instructions with respect to developing any information obtained at the hearing. Had the district court decided to the contrary, I would have no difficulty affirming it, but it did not and I see no good reason to hold that it abused its discretion.