Court Opinion

ID: 9842970
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 02:23:03.901491+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:14:22.817964
License: Public Domain

MacKINNON, Circuit Judge
(concurring).
. I concur generally in the foregoing opinion but desire to comment additionally. At oral argument appellant’s counsel stated they were proceeding on the theory that they could eventually obtain the return of all the original evidentiary documents seized from the Church of Scientology (Scientology) which were introduced as exhibits in the case. Implicit in this theory as advanced was the assumption that the Government would also surrender all copies of the exhibits. If the theory of Scientology eventuated, the evidentiary record in this case would end up devoid of reliable substantiation. Scientology’s theory cannot *961prevail. The court must at all times retain a complete and authoritative record.
It was further claimed at oral argument that our decision in United States v. Wilson, 540 F.2d 1100 (D.C.Cir.1976), supports Scientology’s position. Having authored Wilson, which is apparently the leading case, I believe it worthwhile to correct some misconceptions. We held in Wilson that a federal district court possesses both the jurisdiction and duty “in a criminal case to return to the defendant that property seized from him in the investigation but which is not alleged to be stolen, contraband, or otherwise forfeitable, and which is not needed, or is no longer needed, as evidence.” Id. at 1101. Wilson involved money, whereas here we are dealing with corporate records and documents. There was no intent in Wilson to deal with other property. Money, to which the Government has no further claim, is usually properly returned to a defendant when the case is over and its evidentiary value, if any, has been exhausted.
Corporate records and documents, however, are of a different character and involve some different considerations. Generally when corporate business records are admitted into evidence, if they are needed by the corporation for its operations, copies are furnished and the practice is for the court to exercise its discretion to allow the return of the originals to the corporation. The originals need not be returned, however, if they are needed by the court. After the case is finally completed the court may, in its discretion, permit the substitution of copies for the originals. It is important that the court’s evidentiary record at all times be complete and authoritative. This is particularly important in criminal cases where some defendants attempt to attack their convictions many years after they became final; an authoritative evidentiary record may be required to resolve issues.
Courts may also allow the government to retain seized documents and other property not used at trial for investigations relating to other possible criminal actions. Such was the conclusion of the Sixth Circuit in United States v. Murphy, 413 F.2d 1129 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 396 U.S. 896, 90 S.Ct. 195, 24 L.Ed.2d 174 (1969), where it stated:
The main point of appellants’ argument in this regard was that they had the right to the return of other property and documents which were seized by the Government at the time of their arrest and were not exhibits in the case. This property and the other documents were being held so that it could be determined whether they were stolen from other institutions, and could be used as exhibits in numerous subsequent actions commenced against appellant in different parts of the country. But the withholding of this property from appellants resulted in no error or prejudice to them in this case.
Id. at 1140. The reasoning of the Sixth Circuit appears to have particular relevance here where additional criminal and civil actions have either been commenced or may yet be instituted. Amidst the prospect or actuality of subsequent litigation the integrity of seized documents that were admitted into evidence in an earlier proceeding must be preserved against the contention that any copies are not true and correct. Appellant here has already, claimed that copies of some documents are not correct copies of documents seized pursuant to the search warrant. Under such circumstances the court in its discretion might decide to retain the originals if appellants are unable to show a legitimate business need for them. It is difficult to imagine what legitimate business need appellants could show for the documents in question because they are not ordinary business records but were seized because of their relevance to certain criminal offenses which have resulted in convictions and sentences. It may be that appellants are attempting to obstruct plaintiffs from obtaining evidence necessary for some civil actions that are pending or might be brought against Scientology or its officials.1
The disposition to be made of evidentiary documents lies within the sound discretion of the trial court which should be alert to *962preserve an accurate and complete evidentiary record covering all proceedings and exhibits.
As the Third Circuit held in United States v. Premises Known as 608 Taylor Ave., 584 F.2d 1297 (3d Cir. 1978), a district court’s determination of the reasonableness of the retention of property should include “consideration of the purposes for which the property is being held.” Id. at 1304. The Third Circuit further admonished that district courts should be “sensitive to the need to balance the owner’s interests and the often complex and varied governmental interests in retaining evidence for trial.” Id. The retention of an authentic record should also figure in this equation. Only if the Government’s retention is unreasonable in light of all the circumstances should the district court order the return of the seized property.

. Counsel for Intervenor-Appellee Paulette Cooper at oral argument mentioned his efforts to authenticate some of the documents that are relevant to her pending civil litigation with *962Scientology. Cooper should also consider whether such authentication might be accomplished by (1) the inventory of the search that was filed with the court and (2) by any additional notes or memoranda that the Government may have made contemporaneously with the search.