United States v. Siegelman

282 F.R.D. 640, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 88690, 2012 WL 2445070
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Alabama
DecidedJune 27, 2012
DocketCR. No. 2:05cr119-MEF
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 282 F.R.D. 640 (United States v. Siegelman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Siegelman, 282 F.R.D. 640, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 88690, 2012 WL 2445070 (M.D. Ala. 2012).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION and ORDER

CHARLES S. COODY, United States Magistrate Judge.

Now pending before the court is defendant Don Eugene Siegelman’s (“Siegelman”) motion for discovery. (Doc. # 961). The defendant seeks leave to conduct discovery to support his motion for new trial filed pursuant to FED.R.CRIM.P. 33. See Doc. # 960. Sie-gelman asserts that the discovery he seeks is necessary “[i]n order to have a full and meaningful opportunity to prove that he is entitled to a new trial on the grounds raised in his motion for a new trial.” (Doc. # 961 at 1). The United States opposes the defendant’s discovery motion asserting that his “theories for relief lack a firm evidentiary basis and [he] merely seek[s] a court-ordered fishing expedition.” (Doe. # 975 at 51).

After reviewing the submissions and hearing argument of the parties, the court ordered the United States to produce for an in camera review all documents that would be responsive to the defendant’s discovery requests. The court has carefully and thoroughly reviewed all material provided by the United States. The material does not further the defendant’s claims, does not contain exculpatory material, and contains nothing justifying an evidentiary hearing. Accordingly, for the more detailed reasons that follow, the court concludes that Siegelman’s motion for discovery (doc. # 960) is due to be denied.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

The court has broad discretion concerning whether to allow discovery on a Rule 33(b) motion for new trial.1 Siegelman argues, and the court agrees, that the standard for discovery in the context of a motion for new trial pursuant to Fed.R.Crim.P. 33(b) is analogous to discovery in a habeas corpus proceeding. See Doc. # 961 at 8.

Discovery is authorized in habeas corpus cases, an analogous post-conviction proceeding. See Blackledge [v. Allison,] 431 U.S. [63] 81-82, 97 S.Ct. 1621 [52 L.Ed.2d 136] [ (1977) ] ... citing Rule 6 of the Rules Governing Habeas Corpus. Courts have authority to allow discovery based on the All Writs Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1651, a “legislatively approved source of procedural instruments designed to achieve the rational ends of the law” that “courts may rely upon ... in issuing orders appropriate to assist them in conducting factual inquiries.” Harris v. Nelson, 394 U.S. 286, 299, 89 S.Ct. 1082, 22 L.Ed.2d 281 (1969) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). According to the Supreme Court, “where specific allegations before the court show reason to believe that the petitioner may, if the facts are fully developed, be able to demonstrate that he is” entitled to a new trial, “it is the duty of the court to provide the necessary facilities and procedures for an adequate inquiry.” Id.; see also United States v. Wolfson, 413 F.2d 804, 808 (2d Cir.1969) (in dictum, suggesting that Harris applies to Rule 33 motions); 26 James Wm. Moore et al., Moore’s Federal Practice § 633.21[3], at 633-50 (3d ed. 2006) In fulfilling this duty, a district court has broad discretion to fashion discovery mechanisms suitable to the case before it.

[644]*644United States v. Velarde, 485 F.3d 553, 560 (10th Cir.2007).

Rule 6(a) of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases provides that “[a] party shall be entitled to invoke processes of discovery available under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure if, and to the extent that, the judge in the exercise of his discretion and for good cause shown grants leave to do so, but not otherwise.” See Bracy v. Gramley, 520 U.S. 899, 909, 117 S.Ct. 1793, 138 L.Ed.2d 97 (1997) (“Rule 6(a) makes it clear that the scope and extent of such discovery is a matter confided to the discretion of the District Court.”). And, no due process problem exists with the federal habeas discovery standard. District Attorney’s Office for the Third Judicial District v. Osborne, 557 U.S. 52, 70, 129 S.Ct. 2308, 174 L.Ed.2d 38 (2009). “A habeas petitioner ... is not entitled to discovery as a matter of ordinary course.” Bracy, 520 U.S. at 904, 117 S.Ct. 1793. The requisite good cause is demonstrated when “specific allegations before the court show reason to believe that the petitioner may, if the facts are fully developed, be able to demonstrate that he is ... entitled to relief.” Id. at 908-09, 117 S.Ct. 1793 (citation omitted). “Thus, good cause for discovery cannot arise from mere speculation.” Arthur v. Allen, 459 F.3d 1310, 1311 (11th Cir.2006). As discussed in Velarde, supra, the court will apply these principles to Siegelman’s motion for discovery.

Siegelman also argues that, at a minimum, he is entitled to an evidentiary hearing to develop facts sufficient to prove the allegations contained within his motion for a new trial. See Doc. # 961 at 2. It has long been the law in this circuit that “a motion for new trial may ordinarily be decided upon affidavits without an evidentiary hearing.” United States v. Hamilton, 559 F.2d 1370, 1373 (5th Cir.1977). The only legitimate purpose of an evidentiary hearing within the context of a Rule 33 motion for new trial is “to resolve conflicting evidence.” See Velarde, 485 F.3d at 559. No such conflicts exists.

DISCUSSION

Siegelman argues that he is entitled to discovery on five discrete issues in support of his motion for a new trial. As stated by the defendant, the five areas of discovery are as follows:

(1) Requests Relating to Issue 12 (Brady3 /Giglio4Napue5 Issue)
(2) Requests Relating to Issue II6 (Prose-cutorial Misconduct)
(3) Requests Relating to Issue III7 (Ex Parte Meeting Between Judge and Government
(4) Requests Relating to Issue TV8 (U.S. Attorney Recusal)
[645]*645(5) Requests Relating to Issue V9 (Selective Prosecution)

(Doc. # 961 at 2-6).

The court addresses each domain of discovery requests seriatim.

1. Brady, Giglio and Napue Requests. In his motion for a new trial, Siegelman complains that the prosecutors improperly shaped and scripted the testimony of Nick Bailey (“Bailey”), threatened witnesses Bailey and Loree Skelton, failed to correct misleading testimony during the trial about how many times Bailey met with the government, and failed to turn over “missing FBI 302s.” (Doc. # 960 at 38-46). According to Siegel-man, the prosecutors’ actions deprived him of his due process rights.

Of course, a prosecutor has a duty to provide a criminal defendant with all evidence materially favorably to the defendant’s defense. Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
282 F.R.D. 640, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 88690, 2012 WL 2445070, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-siegelman-almd-2012.