Court Opinion

ID: 3035746
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:53:08.77443+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:48:39.157914
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                            FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                    ___________

                                 Nos. 03-2862/3494
                                   ___________

United States of America,                *
                                         *
              Appellee,                  *
                                         * Appeals from the United States
      v.                                 * District Court for the
                                         * District of Minnesota.
Raymond Damon Smith,                     *
also known as "Cap,"                     *
                                         *
              Appellant.                 *
                                    ___________

                              Submitted: June 14, 2004
                                 Filed: August 4, 2004
                                  ___________

Before SMITH, BEAM, and COLLOTON, Circuit Judges.
                           ___________

SMITH, Circuit Judge.

       In a two-count indictment, the government charged Raymond Damon Smith
with multiple federal drug offenses.1 At trial, the jury convicted him on all counts. On
appeal, Smith argues that his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance and that the
district court2 erred in its denial of his request for a new trial. We affirm.

      1
          21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846, as well as 18 U.S.C. §§ 2 and 323.
      2
        The Honorable James M. Rosenbaum, Chief Judge, United States District
Court for the District of Minnesota.
        First, Smith argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel in
violation of his Sixth Amendment rights. We decline however to address the merits
of Smith's ineffective assistance claim because no hearing was held permitting his
trial counsel an opportunity to respond to Smith's claim. Claims of ineffective
assistance of counsel are more properly raised in a post-conviction motion under 28
U.S.C. § 2255, not on direct appeal. United States v. Pherigo, 327 F.3d 690, 696 (8th
Cir. 2003). In the absence of an adequate record below, we decline to review the issue
at this time.

       Second, Smith claims that the district court should have stopped the
government's "continual" use of leading questions during direct examination, even
though his trial counsel chose not to object. Smith alleges that the district court erred
by not sua sponte ordering the government to stop leading its witnesses. Smith claims
that this error was so prejudicial that the judgment should be reversed–and that he
should receive a new trial–despite the fact that no objections were offered below. He
argues that "[t]he inappropriate nature of the government's direct examination of its
own witnesses should have been obvious to the court, even if it was not obvious to
the government or defense counsel."

       Ordinarily, we defer to the trial court in determining when leading questions
are necessary, reviewing only for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Grassrope,
342 F.3d 866, 869 (8th Cir. 2003). However, because no objection was made below,
we review Smith's claim for plain error. Fed. R. Crim. P. 52(b). Our review under
Rule 52(b) is limited to determining if there is an error that is plain and that affects
substantial rights. United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 732 (1993). When a forfeited
error meets these standards, we may order correction, United States v. Montanye, 996
F.2d 190, 192 (8th Cir. 1993) (en banc), but we will not exercise our discretion unless

                                          -2-
the error seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial
proceedings. Olano, 507 U.S. at 732.

      Smith has not shown that the district court erred by failing to limit the
government's direct examination. Generally, leading questions are best reserved for
cross-examination. However, leading questions may properly be used on direct
examination with certain witnesses–such as an adverse party or a potentially hostile
witness. Fed. R. Evid. 611(c).3

        In this case, the district court–either under its discretionary authority or because
no objection was lodged–allowed several leading questions at various stages of the
trial. However, the district court also properly instructed the jury that an unanswered
leading question provides no information and is not evidence. The district court
further explained to the jury that an answered leading question should be given only
the limited weight that it deserves. Additionally, our review indicates that many of the
leading questions were clearly permissible–taking into account the district court's
broad discretion–under Rule 611(c). As to the remaining objectionable questions and
answers, none rise to the level of prejudice that would warrant relief under our plain-
error standard. Accordingly, we affirm Smith's conviction and sentence, but do so
without prejudice to his ineffective assistance of counsel claim.
                         ______________________________

       3
        Leading questions should not be used on direct examination of a witness
except as may be necessary to develop the witness's testimony. Ordinarily, leading
questions should be permitted on cross-examination. When a party calls a hostile
witness, an adverse party, or a witness identified with an adverse party, interrogation
may be by leading questions. The Advisory Committee Notes to Rule 611(c) state that
with respect to leading questions, "[t]he matter clearly falls within the area of control
by the judge over the mode and order of interrogation and presentation and
accordingly is phrased in words of suggestion rather than command."

                                            -3-