Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: MaxistheBest
The Brady Rule is great. Unfortunately, it relies on the honesty and integrity of the prosecutor determining was is relevant. Too many prosecutors intentionally fail to turn over evidence that is relevant and hide behind the provision by claiming exculpatory evidence wasn't relevant. The law should be changed to require the turning over of ALL EVIDENCE.
9 posted on 02/19/2018 10:07:23 AM PST by WASCWatch
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


To: WASCWatch
"The law should be changed to require the turning over of ALL EVIDENCE."

Sounds like what this Judge is trying to do.

"...information which is favorable to the defendant but which the government believes not to be material,” to “submit such information to the Court for in camera review.”

35 posted on 02/19/2018 3:29:18 PM PST by moehoward
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies ]

To: WASCWatch
You had it right, in the beginning when you said "Brady Rule." Then somehow you decided, that it became a Law. It is not a "LAW," It is only a court ordered RULE, as the result of a U.S. Supreme Court, decision.

Brady Rule

The Brady Rule, named after Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), requires prosecutors to disclose materially exculpatory evidence in the government's possession to the defense. A "Brady material" or evidence the prosecutor is required to disclose under this rule includes any evidence favorable to the accused--evidence that goes towards negating a defendant's guilt, that would reduce a defendant's potential sentence, or evidence going to the credibility of a witness.

If the prosecution does not disclose material exculpatory evidence under this rule, and prejudice has ensued, the evidence will be suppressed. The evidence will be suppressed regardless of whether the prosecutor knew the evidence was in his or her possession, or whether or not the prosecutor intentionally or inadvertently withheld the evidence from the defense.

Further, in cases subsequent to Brady, the Supreme Court has eliminated the requirement for a defendant to have requested a favorable information, stating that the Prosecution has a constitutional duty to disclose, that is triggered by the potential impact of favorable but undisclosed evidence See Kyles v. Whitley 514 U.S. 419, 434 (1955); United States. v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667 (1985).

The defendant bears the burden to prove that the undisclosed evidence was both material and favorable. In other words, the defendant must prove that there is a “reasonable probability” that the outcome of the trial would have been different, had the evidence been disclosed by the prosecutor. See Kyles, 514 U.S. at 433 (1955). Bagles and Kyles Court further defined the “materiality” standard, outlining the four aspects of materiality. First, the “reasonable probability” of a different result is not a question of whether the defendant would more likely than not have received a different verdict with the evidence, but whether the government’s evidentiary suppression undermines the confidence in the outcome of the trial. The second aspect is that it is not a sufficiency of evidence test, and the defendant only has to show that the favorable evidence could reasonably be taken to put the whole case in such a different light as to undermine the confidence in the verdict. Third aspect is that there is no need for a harmless error review, because a Brady violation, by definition, could not be treated as a harmless error. Fourth and final aspect of materiality the Kyles Court stressed was that the suppressed evidence must be considered collective, not item by item, looking at the cumulative effect to determine whether a reasonable probability is reached. See Kyles, 514 U.S. at 433-438.

37 posted on 02/19/2018 6:03:01 PM PST by Stanwood_Dave ("Testilying." Cop's lie, only while testifying, as taught in their respected Police Academy(s).)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson