Cutillo v. Cinnelli — 485 U.S. 1037

Majority

p. 1037

No. 87-725.

Cutillo et al. v. Cinnelli.

C. A. 1st Cir. Motion of respondent for leave to proceed in forma pauperis granted. Certiorari denied.

with whom

The Chief Justice and Justice O’Connor join, dissenting.

In Weatherford v. Bursey, 429 U. S. 545 , 558 (1977), we held that establishing a violation of a defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to counsel requires a showing of “at least a realistic possibility” of prejudice to the defendant or benefit to the prosecution. See also United States v. Morrison, 449 U. S. 361 , 365-366 (1981). This case presents the issue of who bears the burden of persuasion for establishing prejudice or lack thereof when the Sixth Amendment violation involves the transmission of confidential defense strategy information. The First Circuit held that where confidential defense strategy information is transmitted to the prosecution and the defendant makes a prima facie showing of prejudice, the burden then shifts to the prosecution to prove that there was no prejudice to the defendant from the disclosure. Cinelli v. City of Revere, 820 F. 2d 474 , 478, 480 (1987); accord, United States v. Mastroianni, 749 F. 2d 900 , 907-908 (CA1 1984). This position conflicts with the approach of other Circuits of requiring the

Dissent — White J.

p. 1038

defendant to prove prejudice. United States v. Steele, 727 F. 2d 580 , 586-587 (CA6), cert. denied sub nom. Scarborough v. United States, 467 U. S. 1209 (1984); United States v. Irwin, 612 F. 2d 1182 , 1186-1189 (CA9 1980). It also conflicts with a third position that once a defendant shows that the prosecution has improperly-obtained confidential defense strategy information or has intentionally placed an informer in the defense camp then no showing of prejudice is required, for those acts constitute a per se violation of the Sixth Amendment. United States v. Costanzo, 740 F. 2d 251 , 254-255 (CA3 1984), cert. denied, 472 U. S. 1017 (1985). Because of these conflicting approaches among the Circuits, I would grant certiorari.

Cases cited

Weatherford v. Bursey 429 U. S. 545 SCOTUS 1977-02-22 p. 1037
United States v. Morrison 449 U. S. 361 SCOTUS 1981-01-13 p. 1037
820 F. 2d 474 820 F. 2d 474 at 480 p. 1037
749 F. 2d 900 749 F. 2d 900 p. 1037
727 F. 2d 580 727 F. 2d 580 p. 1038
James v. Clark 467 U. S. 1209 SCOTUS 1984-05-21 p. 1038
612 F. 2d 1182 612 F. 2d 1182 p. 1038
740 F. 2d 251 740 F. 2d 251 p. 1038
472 U. S. 1017 472 U. S. 1017 p. 1038

Statutes and regulations cited

Constitution of the United States of America
- Amend. VI p. 1037, p. 1038