Court Opinion

ID: 9460654
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 21:57:04.321678+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:36:43.653249
License: Public Domain

HOLLOWAY, Circuit Judge
(concurring) :
I agree with the majority opinion in all respects, except as to the conclusion that the Government was surprised by the adverse testimony from Robinson and Paden. In that regard I have a different impression of the record, but agree that the disposition of the issue before us concerning impeachment of these two witnesses is proper.
With respect to the testimony of Robinson, there was a statement before he testified by an attorney appointed to advise him of his rights. In the presence of Government counsel the attorney stated to the trial court that his client had informed him that he made no statement concerning the defendant in this case. I feel this put the Government on notice before it called Robinson and that surprise during adverse testimony could not be claimed as is required for such impeachment.1
Again as to the testimony of Paden, I feel the record reveals notice to the Government that he would not testify in accord with his statement. Government counsel in fact referred to an FBI report of an interview two months before trial in which another witness stated that he understood Paden was going to change his story and say he committed the burglary, and that Lemon was not implicated. With this report before the Government prior to trial, I feel the requisite surprise during testimony is again disproved. In view of the statement by Government counsel showing notice of Paden’s change of attitude, no claim of surprise could be made and Paden’s subsequent demeanor on the stand was irrelevant as to surprise.
Nevertheless I join in the disposition on this issue. I am satisfied that any error in permitting the impeachment of Robinson was harmless. And I find no adequate objection to the impeachment procedure on Paden. There being no plain error affecting substantial rights, Rule 52(b), F.R.Crim.P., I agree that the challenge raised on appeal to the impeachment procedure should not be upheld.

. It is not enough that during trial there is surprise — which is commonplace when one repudiates his earlier statements. The surprise must occur during testimony of the witness on the stand so that damage is inflicted by one’s own witness, contrary to the reasonable expectations of the party calling him. See United States v. Coppola, 479 F.2d 1153, 1157—1158 (10th Cir.); United States v. Eaton, 485 F.2d 102, 105 (10th Cir.); and see Yonng v. United States, 97 F.2d 200, 205-206 (5th Cir.).