344 F.3d 1036 | 10th Cir. | 2003
Lead Opinion
PUBLISH
Thomas L. English, a former Assistant United States Attorney, seeks review of a district court post-judgment order allegedly censuring him for misconduct in connection with his handling of a material witness in United States v. Gonzales, 95-CR-538 (D.N.M.). We dismiss the appeal for lack of standing.
Gonzales was a complex, highly intense criminal prosecution in which the government charged twenty-three members of an Albuquerque street gang with various gang-related crimes including murder, attempted murder, drug trafficking, racketeering, and conspiracy. English was the lead prosecutor. During the discovery stage, the district court issued an order suppressing the testimony of a material witness as a sanction for prosecutorial violations. Specifically, the district court found that the government had improperly coerced the testimony of the witness by issuing an arrest warrant that could be avoided if she cooperated, and that English had misrepresented to the court the extent of the government’s contact with and control over the witness in order to avoid producing her to defense counsel.
The government filed an interlocutory appeal from the district court’s suppression order, and we affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. United States v. Gonzales, 164 F.3d 1285, 1293 (10th Cir.1999). We rejected the district court’s determination that the government had improperly coerced the material witness, id. at 1289-91, but affirmed the district court’s conclusion that the government had misrepresented the extent of its contact with and control over the witness and interfered with defense access to her. Id. at 1292. Further, we concluded that the sanction of suppressing the witness’ testimony was too severe and remanded to the district court for consideration of lesser sanctions, such as “allowing the witness to be redeposed by defense at government expense, censuring or fining the government attorneys involved in the misconduct, or recommending disciplinary proceedings against the government attorneys involved.” Id. at 1293.
Following remand, the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of New Mexico commenced inquiry into a complaint filed against English by defense counsel. The Disciplinary Board, after conducting an investigation of English based on his purported violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct in connection with Gonzales, issued an opinion finding there was insufficient evidence to support probable cause that he had engaged in misconduct.
Approximately nine months after the Board completed its investigation, the district court conducted an in camera hearing to determine whether personal sanctions should be imposed against English. By this time, the defendants in Gonzales had pled guilty and had been sentenced. At the in camera hearing, English apologized for any actions on his part that might have led the court to believe he was not respecting its authority. English also submitted a copy of the Disciplinary Board’s report to the court. A representative for the defendants stated that the question of sanctions was for the court to decide and the defendants would make no recommendation regarding the matter. The district court stated that the case had been difficult for all parties involved, and that English and the other government attorneys had not made it easier with their tactics. The court also noted that defense counsel had caused their share of problems with repeated allegations of prosecutorial misconduct, many of which were unfounded. The court stated its belief that everyone had learned from the experience and concluded there would “be no further sanctions imposed in this matter.” Aplt.App., Exh. 10 at 619.
Approximately three months later, the district court issued an order memorializing the in camera hearing. The order began by restating the relevant facts, and then stated:
*1039 As the Court stated from the bench, this was a very difficult and trying case for everyone involved. However, the fact that this case was very tense and emotional does not absolve those who are entrusted with the power and authority of the State of their responsibilities as Officers of the Court. Armed with the power to deprive people of their liberty, the Government has a duty to ensure justice. The Government is not simply an adversary. The Government’s focus should not be to win at all costs, but to advance integrity and fairness in our legal system.
While this Court does not approve of the conduct of the Government in this case, this Court does not wish to prolong this matter any further. Counsel for the defendants did not take a position on the sanctions this Court is to impose. The Assistant United States Attorney has been before the State Disciplinary Board for his conduct in this case, and has suffered the consequences of his conduct in his community of fellow prosecutors as well as in the defense community. The Court trusts that the Government has learned from this experience, and in future cases will use its power not simply to gain the best advantage, but to make decisions that advance the fairness and integrity expected' of those of us entrusted with the awesome power to decide people’s lives. Therefore, the Court declines to impose sanctions.
Aplt.App., Exh. 1 at 448-49. English, on his own behalf, filed a motion asking the district court to reconsider its order. English argued that the district court’s order constituted a criminal contempt sanction because it operated as a public censure. He also complained that he did not receive notice that the in camera hearing would operate as a criminal contempt proceeding, and therefore he had not been allowed to present his side of the matter to the district court. He further argued that the only evidence before the court were the materials he submitted and those materials mandated a finding in his favor on the issue of misconduct. The district court denied English’s motion in a written order issued June 3, 2001. The court concluded its April 18, 2001, order did not sanction English. Instead, it concluded that order “simply reiterate[d] the background of the case, stat[ed] previous findings that were made about the Government’s conduct ... and restate[d] in written form what the Court stated from the bench (to which the Government did not object at the time it was said).” ApltApp., Exh. 3 at 510. English seeks appellate review of the district court’s orders issued April 18 and June 3, 2001.
II.
The threshold, and ultimately determinative, issue is whether the district court’s orders rise to the level of a sanction.
The Circuits are divided over whether a court’s written decision finding attorney misconduct, but not specifically imposing any type of sanctions (monetary or otherwise), is appealable. On one end of the spectrum is the Seventh Circuit, which has held that an attorney may not appeal from an order that finds misconduct but does not result in monetary liability, despite the potential effects of the finding on the attorney’s professional reputation. See
We find it unnecessary to decide the issue here given the facts of this ease. Even if we were to adopt the Fifth Circuit’s position in Walker, i.e., that a written finding of professional misconduct is sufficient to provide an attorney standing to appeal, it is apparent there was no such finding in the orders that English now seeks to challenge. In its April 18, 2001, order, the district court reviewed its earlier findings and stated that the government’s focus should not be to win at all costs but to advance integrity and fairness in the legal system. The court stated that it did not approve of the government’s conduct and hoped it had learned from the experience, and in the future would use its power not to gain the best advantage, but to make decisions which would advance fairness and integrity. Importantly, and contrary to English’s assertions, the district court made no new “factual findings” in its order, and instead restated its earlier findings (made in 1997). Although English argues the court’s restatement of its earlier findings constitutes a “reimposition” of sanctions, he cites no authority for this proposition other than an obscure reference to defamation law which has no bearing on this case. Likewise, there were no “new” findings of misconduct in the court’s June 3, 2001, order rejecting English’s motion for reconsideration.
As a final matter, we reject the dissent’s suggestion that English was “previously unable to fully contest this matter” or was otherwise denied due process. Dissent at 16. When the district court issued its original suppression order, the government filed a timely interlocutory appeal challenging that order. Although the district court’s order included findings of misconduct on the part of English, English did not timely seek to intervene in the government’s interlocutory appeal in order to challenge those findings, but instead waited to file a motion to intervene after this court’s decision was issued. See generally Penthouse Int’l Ltd. v. Playboy Enterprises, Inc., 663 F.2d 371, 385-86, 392 (2d Cir.1981) (allowing an attorney to intervene on appeal to contest the district court’s finding of misconduct which was part of its reasoning in dismissing a complaint for discovery abuses). On remand,
The appeal is DISMISSED.
The majority opinion is published only because the dissent is published.
. There is no doubt that the order from which English seeks to appeal is "final” for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and that English’s appeal is post-judgment.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
Former Assistant United States Attorney Thomas English seeks review of district court post-judgment orders allegedly censuring him for misconduct in connection with his handling of a material witness in United States v. Gonzales, 95-CR-538 (D.N.M., filed Oct. 18, 1995). In a decision dismissing the appeal, the Court holds Attorney English “was not injured in the legal sense by those orders and therefore lacks standing to appeal.” Court’s Op. at 6-7. Because I believe the language of the district court’s orders constituted a sanction sufficiently injurious to give Attorney English standing to appeal, I dissent.
I.
The factual background necessary to begin understanding this appeal is set forth in United States v. Gonzales, 164 F.3d 1285 (10th Cir.1999). Gonzales was a complex, highly intense criminal prosecution in which the Government charged twenty-three members of an Albuquerque street gang with various gang-related crimes including murder, attempted murder, drug trafficking, racketeering, and conspiracy. Attorney English was the Government’s lead prosecutor. During the discovery stage, defense counsel moved to dismiss certain counts of the indictment due to “unconscionable” and “outrageous” government conduct surrounding a material witness. Without prior hearing, the district court entered a twenty-two page order limiting at trial the material witness’ testimony as a sanction for purportedly ongoing prosecutorial misconduct. The order criticized both the Government and Attorney English. Upon the Government’s motion to reconsider, the court entered a 119-page order suppressing the witness’ statements and barring her testimony.
On interlocutory appeal pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3731, this Court upheld the district court’s decision to sanction the Government, repeatedly specifying English by name, for what, in the Court’s opinion, were “obvious” violations of district court discovery orders directing the Government to provide “‘face-to-face’” access to its confidential witnesses.
The Government moved unsuccessfully for panel rehearing, arguing the Court relied on inaccurate facts in citing Attorney English for misconduct. English also filed an unsuccessful pro se motion for leave to intervene before this Court. In his motion, English argued (1) he had not been a party before the district court; (2) he had no notice this Court would censure him so harshly; (3) he was not represented by counsel; and (4) he had been unable to defend his interest in his professional reputation because the Government feared he would become a witness and thus unable to continue as lead prosecutor in the case.
Following remand, the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of New Mexico commenced inquiry into the matter on the complaint of defense counsel. Over the course of nearly a year, the Board conducted, consistent with due process, a complete investigation of Attorney English based on his purported violation of numerous Rules of Professional Conduct in connection with Gonzales. See, e.g., N.M. Rules Ann. 16-303 (Candor toward the tribunal); 16-304 (Fairness to opposing party and counsel); 16^404 (Dealing with unrepresented persons); 16-804 (Misconduct). The Board concluded the evidence was insufficient to support a finding of probable cause that Attorney English had engaged in misconduct before the district court. In a report favorable to Attorney English, a copy of which is attached hereto as an Appendix, the Chief Disciplinary Counsel for the Board found, among other things, that English did not make knowing
I am not attempting to “overrule” the courts; it is merely that what a judge may find exasperating is not necessarily evidence that one has intentionally failed to expedite litigation, obstructed a party’s access to evidence or disobeyed an obligation under procedural rules in vio.-lation of the Rules of Professional Conduct.3
Nine months after the Board issued its report exonerating Attorney English, the district court, on January 26, 2001, held an in camera hearing on remand to determine “whether or not personal sanctions should be imposed on Mr. Thomas L. English, Assistant United States Attorney.” At the time of the hearing, all Defendants in the Gonzales case had pled guilty and had been sentenced. During the hearing, English submitted the Disciplinary Board’s report to the court without objection from defense counsel. The district court, after thanking English, informed him “[t]here will be no further sanctions imposed in this matter.”
At the hearing, the Government and defense counsel submitted a two page stipulated order to the district court (a point overlooked by this Court) which asked the court to find that “no fine, censure of any kind, or other sanction is appropriate against any of the government attorneys involved in this matter.” The court did not enter the order. Instead, three months later, the district court, without further hearing and without warning, issued a written order on the matter which this Court in my opinion inaccurately characterizes as “memorializing the in camera hearing.” Court’s Op. at 5.
The district court noted the Disciplinary Board had found insufficient evidence to establish a violation of ethical rules, and reiterated that “no sanction shall issue” against Attorney English. But the court did not stop there. Quoting its original order suppressing the subject witness’ statement and barring her testimony, the court referred to the “Government’s ‘course of conduct in pursuing this most serious of prosecutions that has forced the Court to issue countless admonitions and lesser sanctions in response to the Government’s misconduct, ... as well as misrepresentations made in open court ... by lead Government counsel that interfered with Defendants’ court-ordered access to [the subject witness].’ ” The district court noted this Court’s approval of its findings on appeal and stated:
While this Court does not approve of the conduct of the Government in this case, this Court does not wish to prolong this matter any further.... The Assistant United States Attorney has been before the State Disciplinary Board for his conduct in this case, and has suffered the consequences of his conduct in his community of fellow prosecutors as well as in the defense community. The Court trusts that the Government has learned*1044 from this experience, and in future cases will use its power not simply to gain the best advantage, but to make decisions that advance fairness and integrity expected of those of us entrusted with the awesome power to decide people’s lives. Therefore, the Court declines to impose sanctions.
Attorney English filed a motion to reconsider the foregoing order which the district court construed as a motion to alter or amend under Fed.R.Civ.P. 59(e). English characterized the court order as both a “public censure” and a “harsh, punitive, sanction” against him. In denying the motion, the court responded:
The Court has found that the Government committed misconduct in the course of the Gonzales case. The Tenth Circuit upheld that finding. The Government apparently wishes for this Court to reverse its previous findings, as well as those of the Tenth Circuit, in order to exonerate him. The Court decided not to impose sanctions, but it will not, and did not decide to, reverse its previous findings.
II.
The Court is correct in initially addressing its jurisdiction over Attorney English’s appeal.
A.
As the Court notes, the circuits are divided over whether á court’s written decision finding attorney misconduct alone,
The Fifth Circuit reached a like conclusion in another similar case. In Walker v. City of Mesquite, 129 F.3d 831, 832 (5th Cir.1997), the district court found an attorney engaged in “blatant misconduct” by violating his obligation of candor to the court. Like here, the court levied no other sanction against the attorney. Rejecting the argument that an attorney’s diminished reputation was not a cognizable injury for purposes of appeal, the Fifth Circuit wrote:
In the case at bar [the attorney] was reprimanded sternly and found guilty of blatant misconduct. The reprimand must be seen as a blot on [the attorney’s] professional record with a potential to limit his advancement in governmental service and impair his entering into otherwise inviting private practice. We therefore ... hold that the importance of an attorney’s professional reputation, and the imperative to defend it when necessary, obviates the need for a finding of monetary liability or other punishment as a requisite for appeal of a court order finding professional misconduct.
Id. at 832-33.
Taking a different approach, a divided panel of the First Circuit disagreed with the Fifth Circuit in In re Williams, 156 F.3d 86 (1st Cir.1998). The district court affirmed the factual finding of the bankruptcy court that two government tax attorneys failed to comply with discovery requests. The bankruptcy court “harshly criticized” the attorneys, “characterizing their conduct as obstructionist and unjustified.” Id. at 88. The First Circuit dismissed the attorneys’ appeal, holding “[w]ords alone” constitute an appealable sanction only “if they are expressly identified as a reprimand.” Id. at 92.
“Mindful that every pejorative expression or criticism by a court of a lawyer is not subject to appeal,” the dissent viewed the bankruptcy court’s words as “not a mere finding of fact, but an ultimate statement of censure, intended to punish counsel.” Id. at 96 (Rosenn, J., dissenting). The dissent protested: “Denying [attorneys] the right to an appeal in a matter impugning their character, competence or integrity ... and which publicly and harshly censures them merely because the chastisement is not expressly a ‘formal reprimand’ exalts form over substance.” Id. at 99.
Three of seven active judges on the First Circuit dissented from denial of the attorneys’ request for rehearing en banc. That dissent aptly noted among other things that “[b]eing branded unethical or incompetent by a federal judge can essentially destroy a lawyer’s career.” Williams v. United States, 158 F.3d 50, 50 (1st Cir.1998) (Lynch, J., dissenting from denial of reh’g en banc). Like the panel dissent, the dissent from denial of rehearing en banc also criticized the opinion’s formalism: “This sort of formalism, which
Two decisions from the Ninth Circuit are also noteworthy. Weissman v. Quail Lodge, Inc., 179 F.3d 1194 (9th Cir.1999) relied on Williams to conclude that a district court’s disparaging comments about counsel did not alone constitute an appeal-able sanction against him. The attorney intervened on behalf of a client to object to a class action settlement. The court entered an order finding the attorney’s intervention “reflects a serious lack of professionalism and good judgment.” Id. at 1196. The court described his objections as “groundless, contrived and misplaced.” Id. Rejecting the notion the court’s words constituted a formal reprimand, the Ninth Circuit “decline[d] to find ... that any time a court includes critical words about an attorney’s conduct in an order, those words constitute a formal reprimand.” Id. at 1199.
The Ninth Circuit subsequently narrowed Weissman’s reach in United States v. Talao, 222 F.3d 1133 (9th Cir.2000). The district court found an attorney had violated the California Rule of Professional Conduct prohibiting ex parte communications with a represented party. The Ninth Circuit drew a line “between routine judicial commentary and commentary that is inordinately injurious to a lawyer’s reputation,” id. at 1137, and held the court’s finding, although not formally labeled a sanction, constituted an appealable sanction order:
Weissman and Williams ... do not determine our jurisdiction in this case. Those cases addressed only instances in which mere judicial criticism constitutes an appealable sanction. The district court ..., however, did more than use “words alone” or render “routine judicial commentary.” Rather the district court made a finding and reached a legal conclusion that [the attorney] knowingly and wilfully violated a specific rule of ethical conduct. Such a finding, per se, constitutes a sanction. The district court’s disposition bears a greater resemblance to a reprimand than to a commentary merely critical of inappropriate attorney behavior.... If the court’s formal finding is permitted to stand, it is likely to stigmatize [the attorney] among her colleagues and ... could have a serious detrimental effect on her career.... We have no reluctance in concluding that the district court’s finding of an ethical violation by [the attorney] is an appealable sanction.
Id. at 1137-38.
B.
An attorney’s professional reputation undoubtedly is his or her most valuable asset. See, e.g., Cooter & Gell v. Hartmarx Corp., 496 U.S. 384, 413, 110 S.Ct. 2447, 110 L.Ed.2d 359 (1990) (Stevens, J., concurring in part) (“I still believe that most lawyers are wise enough to know that their most precious asset is their professional reputation.”). Findings of serious ethical misconduct can cast dark shadows over an attorney’s career. See, e.g., McBryde v. Committee to Review Circuit Council Conduct, 264 F.3d 52, 81 (D.C.Cir.2001) (noting that an attorney’s interest in an untarnished reputation is greater than the “mere loss of money.”). Accordingly, I reject the proposition that before an order asserting counsel’s ethical misconduct constitutes an appealable sanction, a court must either impose monetary penalties or label findings of such misconduct a formal reprimand or censure. “Stripped to essentials this proposition would maintain that
In no way do I mean to imply that every negative comment or observation from a judge’s pen about an attorney’s conduct or performance is appealable. See, e.g., Weissman, 179 F.3d at 1199. It is not. But demanding the requisite formality the First Circuit imposed in Williams simply is unfair to the overwhelming majority of attorneys who conduct themselves in accordance with rules of professional responsibility and ably serve as officers of the court. Under Williams’ rationale, a court presumably could find an attorney engaged in outrageous, even felonious misconduct, while insulating its findings, justifiable or otherwise, from appellate review by refraining from labeling them a sanction:
[T]here are few checks on what judges say about counsel other than the judge’s own prudence. A lawyer attempting to pursue a client’s interest zealously may, if faced with an arbitrary judge or a judge who has an erroneous view of the facts, end up with a blot on his or her record that will never be erased-unless an appeal is possible to correct the problem.
Williams v. United States, 158 F.3d 50, 50 (1st Cir.1998) (Lynch, J., dissenting from denial of reh’g en banc). Needless to say, “[a]rmed with life tenure and broad discretion, a [federal] judge can do great harm to a lawyer’s career, while the attorney has virtually no recourse at all.” Steve Lubet, Just Who Made Federal Judges God?, Chic. Trib., Aug. 10, 2001, at 23. I am satisfied that an attorney’s ability to fight reputational damage arising from a court order should not be dependent on how the court labels that order.
Criticism that this approach is unworkable and “tantamount to declaring open season on trial judges” is misplaced. See Williams, 156 F.3d at 91. The D.C. Circuit, in a ease where a disciplinary committee found ethical rules violations but did not formally impose sanctions, adopted the same approach over thirty years ago. Sullivan, 395 F.2d at 954. The problems the First Circuit foresaw in Williams have not materialized. I believe the Williams approach is more akin to declaring open season on trial attorneys. The possibility of appellate review is a proper check in those rare instances where a federal court is too willing to unilaterally issue an idle reprimand. Meanwhile, an attorney’s self interest directs that he or she appeal only where the court’s words are especially damaging to the attorney’s reputatioñ and perhaps unjustified. This is because an attorney appealing a reprimand “takes the risk that this court, reaching the merits, will agree that the sanction is justified— thus giving the sanction far more force than it would have had if it had come from a trial judge unendorsed by a reviewing court.” Williams, 158 F.3d at 51 (Lynch, J., dissenting from denial of reh’g en banc).
C.
Unlike the Court, I conclude the district court’s unequivocal language in its written orders on remand constitutes a sanction sufficiently injurious to Attorney English’s professional reputation to provide him standing to appeal. See Weeks v. Indepen
Without explanation, the district court’s orders all but ignore the New Mexico Supreme Court Disciplinary Board’s findings-findings made after full and fair investigation. The district court’s written orders plainly reprimand Attorney English a second time for blatant ethical misconduct and an abuse of power. While not referring specifically to English by name or citing the applicable rules of professional conduct, the court refers to “misrepresentations made in open court ... by lead Government counsel that interfered with Defendants’ court-ordered access to [the subject witness].” By all accounts, the district court engaged in more than “routine judicial commentary.” Talao, 222 F.3d at 1137. No citation to authority is necessary to conclude that such misrepresentation violates long established rules of professional conduct. Insistence upon candor to the court is perhaps the most important ethical precept of all.
The district court further notes Attorney English used his power “simply to gain the best advantage,” and consequently suffered for his misconduct: “The Assistant United States Attorney has been before the State Disciplinary Board for his conduct in this case, and has suffered the consequences of his conduct in his community of fellow prosecutors as well as in the defense community.”
III.
Matters of attorney discipline by their very nature often come to us outside the common adversarial context. I am mindful that no one has recorded opposition to Attorney English’s request for relief in this case, and thus I proceed cautiously. The proper starting point is to consider the source of the district court’s power to sanction Attorney English for noncompliance with pretrial discovery orders extending beyond the requirements of criminal rules and statutes. See Gonzales, 164 F.3d at 1291 (noting “Fed.R.Crim.P. 16 is inapplicable here because it does not require the government to make its witnesses available for defense interviews.”).
A.
Assuming the district court legitimately imposed such orders (a question not before the Court, see supra n. 1), the court’s ability to enforce those orders rests in its “inherent power.” Whether exercised in a civil or criminal context, “[tjhe inherent powers of federal courts are those which are necessary to the exercise of all others.” Roadway Express, Inc. v. Piper, 447 U.S. 752, 764, 100 S.Ct. 2455, 65 L.Ed.2d 488 (1980). “Because inherent powers are shielded from direct democratic controls, they must be exercised with restraint and discretion.” Id.
The extent of these powers must be delimited with care, for there is a danger of overreaching when one branch of the Government, without benefit of cooperation or correction from others, undertakes to define its own authority. In many instances the inherent powers of the courts may be controlled or overridden by statute or rule. Principles of deference counsel restraint in resorting to inherent power, and require its use to be a reasonable response to the problems and needs that provoke it.
Degen v. United States, 517 U.S. 820, 823-24, 116 S.Ct. 1777, 135 L.Ed.2d 102 (1996). “The conceded power of federal district courts to supervise the conduct of attorneys should not be used as a means to substantially alter federal criminal law practice.” Grievance Committee v. Simels, 48 F.3d 640, 644 (2d Cir.1995). A court must remain mindful that its inherent power “is limited by the necessity giving rise to its exercise.” Degen, 517 U.S. at 829, 116 S.Ct. 1777. “In short, the inherent power springs from the well of necessity, and sparingly so.” Natural Gas Pipeline Co. v. Energy Gathering, Inc., 2 F.3d 1397, 1407 (5th Cir.1993).
In this case, the district court entered its post judgment orders (1) after the district court had already reprimanded English for his conduct, (2) after Defendants had pled guilty and been sentenced, (3) after the New Mexico Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Board had exonerated English, and (4) after the court announced at hearing that no further sanctions would issue. The district court’s written orders serve no meaningful purpose other than to pour new salt into old wounds. In short, the district court’s post-judgment orders sternly denouncing Attorney English’s conduct were unnecessary at that stage of the proceedings and thus beyond the court’s inherent power to issue.
B.
I am well aware that this Court also disapproved of Attorney English’s appar
Public criticism of a lawyer in an opinion in which the court does not undertake the job of fact-finding with all the procedural safeguards involved in a disciplinary proceeding may destroy or severely damage a lawyer’s reputation. When the lawyer has no chance to defend, the mere mention of the fact of reference to disciplinary authorities is problematic, especially if accompanied by an unfavorable characterization of the lawyer’s conduct.
A court “that has the power but is unwilling to undertake the disciplinary process itself, either directly or through a master (or other body appointed by it), should be very cautious about specific comments it makes about discipline.” Id. at 866-67.
Indeed, a federal court unprepared to provide procedural safeguards to an attorney in a case such as this should defer to the findings and conclusions of a state disciplinary board where no good reason appears why those findings and conclusions should not be accepted or given effect. See Selling v. Radford, 243 U.S. 46, 50, 37 S.Ct. 377, 61 L.Ed. 585 (1917); In re Gordon, 640 F.2d 1143, 1150 (10th Cir.1981); see also Theard, 354 U.S. at 282, 77 S.Ct. 1274 (stating that Selling “authoritatively expounded” the recognition a federal court must accord a state judgment of disbarment). Federal courts should defer to state court disciplinary findings and conclusions unless an independent review of the state record reveals (1) a state procedure that lacks due process because of failure to provide adequate notice and opportunity to be heard, (2) an “infirmity of proof,” or (3) some other “grave reason” why the federal court should not defer to the state proceedings. Selling, 243 U.S. at 51, 37 S.Ct. 377. Selling remains the law today. See, e.g., In re Caranchini, 160 F.3d 420, 424-25 (8th Cir.1998). This Court’s failure to require the district court
IV.
For the foregoing reasons, I would hold Attorney English has sustained sufficient reputational injury from the district court’s post-judgment orders to establish his standing to appeal. As to the merits, I would at a minimum strike from the record the district court’s orders herein dated April 18, 2001 and June 3, 2001 as beyond its inherent authority. I would direct that the district court’s statement following the in camera hearing on January 26, 2001 that “[tjhere will be no further sanctions imposed in this matter” serve as its final order in this matter.
Accordingly, I dissent.
APPENDIX
The Disciplinary Board
AN AGENCY OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO
400 Gold SW, Suite 1100
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Phone: (505) 842-5781
Fax: (505) 766-6833
April 25, 2000
Re: Complaint against Thomas L. English, Esq. and Esq. Docket Nos. 2000-2-2889 and 2000-2-2890
As you are aware, your complaint filed against Thomas L. English, Esq., and Esq., has been under investigation by this office since March 29, 1999. That investigation has now been concluded, and the entire file has been independently reviewed by one of the Board’s hearing officers in your area.
The reviewing officer, after having studied numerous transcripts, depositions, court orders and opinions, and witness Interview notes, concurs with the opinion of this office that there is insufficient evidence to establish a probable cause belief that either of these attorneys has violated any of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Permit me to explain our decision.
(1) Coercion of Angela Tello and “Unlawful” Warrant
With respect to the allegation that Messrs. English and obtained an “unlawful” warrant from Judge Blackmer and used is to coerce Angela Tello into becoming a prosecution witness, it is abundantly clear that Mr. English played no role whatsoever in obtaining the warrant. The warrant was obtained by Mr. Montario, Detective Lawis, and ATF Agent Ainsworth at the urging of Detective Lewis. Judge Blackmer was selected because (a) this was a state case (note caption on warrant) and (b) Judge Black-mer had continuing jurisdiction over Tello, who was serving a probationary sentence as a juvenile imposed by Blackmer. While Tello’s testimony would eventually have been used in the federal Suredo cases, that fact would not preclude the State of New Mexico from having proceeded against her as well on state charges or have mandated that any contact with her be conducted through the federal court. The fact that the warrant was a state warrant would not render it “unlawful.”
Everyone involved — including Judge Blackmer — is adamant that Mr. English neither was present during the issuance of nor consulted in advance about the warrant. Additionally, the available evidence also indicates that everyone present agrees that while inquired of the judge whether an actual arrest would be necessary if Angela Tello decided to give infor
The reviewing officer and I tend to agree with the Tenth Circuit that there is no evidence the warrant was used coer-cively or that the arrest somehow traumatized Ms. Tello. The only input on the subject from Ms. Tello herself appears to be her deposition and certainly that would not support a theory that she was upset by either the warrant or the presence of the officers who served it. Furthermore, the fact that she subsequently absconded from the drug program in Seattle and returned to Albuquerque of her own accord would greatly dilute any argument that the “threat” of being returned to Albuquerque was somehow coercive.
(2) English Misrepresentation to the Court Regarding Government’s Control of Angela Tello
While Mr. English may or may not have accurately portrayed the parameters of the government’s relationship with Angela Tel-lo when he advised the court on two separate occasions that she was not under the government’s “control,” it appears that he had a good faith belief that she was not in fact under his “control.” Although Tello’s exact status on September 4, 1996, and January 24, 1997 (when the statements were made) may be subject to argument, there is no evidence that Mr. English made knowing misrepresentations to the court in violation of Rule 16 — 308(A)(1) or Rule 16-804(C) (both of which appear to require a certain degree of scienter.)
Mr. English has explained in some detail that there were hundreds of witnesses involved in this case. Some of these witnesses were relocated by his office under the aegis of the Federal Witness Protection Program; these witnesses he viewed, as under his “control,” but Ms. Tello was not in this position. While she was a cooperating witness, she was “relocated” not by Mr. English but by Judge Black-mer. Furthermore, at the time of his first statement regarding his lack of control over Ms. Tello, she had absconded from the Seattle program and was under no one’s control. He advised Mr. Donatelli of this immediately after the hearing, however, a fact confirmed in a letter to him from Donatelli. When asked why he did not simply advise the court of the situation, Mr. English explained that since Angela Tello had by then been identified as a cooperating witness there was concern for her safety and her family’s safety and he did not want to announce in open court (in front of defendants) the fact that she was no longer in a secure treatment facility.
By the time of the January 1997 hearing, Ms. Tello had turned herself in to Judge Blackmer, and it was apparently assumed by both Judge Vazquez and the Tenth Circuit that she was again under the “control” of the U.S. Attorney’s office. Part of the assumption evidently stems from the fact that she had received some type of payments from the government. These payments, however, were from the ATF and were made pursuant to Department of Treasury Rules and Procedures; there is no evidence that the U.S. Attorney’s office was either consulted about or made aware of these payments.
For unknown reasons, it seems that nearly everyone associated with this case in a judicial or a defense capacity assumes
(3) Obstructing Defense Access to Angela Tello and Threatening Prosecution
This allegation arose primarily from a conversation between English and Dona-telli on July 15, 1996, wherein English supposedly coerced Angela Tello to advise Donatelli not to send Peso Chavez to Seattle to see her and threatened Donatelli with criminal prosecution if he continued with his efforts to contact her.
With respect to this allegation, it is Mr. English’s position (which is corroborated by Agent McCall) that when they went to Seattle to see Tello, she was upset that her family had been contacted by the defense and had agreed to meet with Mr. Chavez initially only in an effort to keep him away from her family but was adamant that she did not want to meet with him further. Mr. English advised her that whether or not she chose to meet with the defense was up to her but did not discourage her from doing so. When she remained constant in her position that she wanted no further contact with. Mr. Chavez. English figured that someone had better advise Mr. Dona-telli of this fact last the defense go to the unnecessary expense of flying Mr. Chavez to Seattle — which he believed (probably correctly) would annoy not only the defense but also the court.
Both English and McCall state that after speaking with Donatelli, Tello handed the phone to English and went outside for a cigarette. Consequently, while Donntelli seems to believe that the remainder of the conversation was for Tello’s benefit, the two persons on Tello’s end of the' line would dispute that. Obviously, it would be helpful to discuss this with Ms. Tello, but she cannot be located at present (at least not by this office or by APD.) Consequently, all things considered, I would have to say that English and McCall would be in a better position than Donatelli to know whether or not Tello was in the room.
While your complaint states that English then threatened defense attorneys and their investigators with prosecution if they made further efforts to contact Tello, English’s recollection of the conversation differs somewhat. What apparently occurred was that he advised Donatelli that witnesses (plural) were complaining of harassment by the defense and that if this continued, he would either have to advise the judge or pursue charges of harassment of a witness (which, I gather, is a crime under federal law.) In fact, I have been provided with copies of FBI reports containing complaints of witnesses regarding alleged harassment by defense investigators. Mr. English was not threatening anyone but was merely relaying the concerns of the witnesses and attempting to get the problem stopped. I would- view the “threat” along the same lines as a demand letter in a civil case (which I am constantly explaining to complainants is
Even Martha Minogue (Donatelli’s Office Manager who was listening in on the conversation) refers in her July 17, 1996, memorandum to English’s mention of witnesses being harassed. She also confirms English’s position that he would give Angela Tello Donatelli’s phone number in case she changed her mind about speaking with him. This would hardly appear to be the action of someone who was attempting to thwart any contact between the two.
The available evidence simply does not support charges of interference with access to a witness in violation of Rules 16-304(A) and 16-304(F) or burdening a third person in violation of Rule 16-404.
(4) Violations of Discovery Orders
I realize that both Judge Vazquaz and the Tenth Circuit found that “the government” was dilatory in providing discovery to the defense, and far be it from me to question the findings of such eminent authorities. Nonetheless, I cannot equate the court’s frustration with the slowness of the discovery process in a ease of this magnitude involving twenty-two defendants (and their attorneys and investigators) and a host of witnesses, ADP officers, AFT agents, DEA agents, FBI agents, and countless exhibits with intentional misconduct or “a strategy of dilatoriness, evasion, and outright defiance of court orders designed to hamper the defense” by Mr. English in violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
Much of the concern expressed by both Judge Vazquez and the Tenth Circuit is directed at the government’s supposed duplicity in concealing and coercing Angela Tello, both of which have been discussed above and will not be reiterated here.
I gather that there were thousands of pages of witness statements, police reports, supplemental reports, evidence tests, photographs, pieces of evidence, video tapes, and what not involved in this case. In her order of February 20, 1997, Judge Vazquez notes (at p. 3) the government’s “continued intransigence or carelessness” and goes on to cite as an example that “it is patently unreasonable for the Government to clump thousands of pages of discovery on Defendants with little or no explanation as to what the materials are.” I realize that it has been some time since I defended someone in a criminal case, but I certainly can recall occasions where I received at least hundreds of pages of discovery and had to figure out for myself the significance of everything; I do not recall ever having received a cata-logue to the discovery and was not even aware that the rules mandated that I should have received one (and cannot now find where they do.) I certainly am not questioning the court’s authority to issue whatever discovery orders it wishes, but— quite frankly — it almost would seem that some of these orders would be nearly impossible to follow in a timely (two to five days) fashion.
I am also not clear on what the court might have had in mind when on September 13, 1996, it ordered that the information from any interview be provided to the defense within two working days — even if the various agencies involved did not have a report written. It just seems to me to be a bit unreasonable to expect prosecutors to be writing reports of or relaying second-hand information to the defense regarding interviews at which they were not even present and about which they themselves had no written reports. It would also seem to be fraught with potential
Finally, the Tenth Circuit’s finding that Mr. English had available the Tello arrest warrant but failed to provide it to defense counsel prior to her deposition and then, at the end, said “Oh look, here it was in my notes all along” is, I gather, to be considered yet another example of his sandbagging scheme. I cannot buy into this, however. Assuming that Judge Vazquez and the Tenth Circuit had before them the transcript of the Tello deposition, they surely noticed that there was no such statement made by Mr. English on the record nor was there any exchange indicating any frustration of either you or Ms. Adrian regarding the warrant. At TR. 16, 1.21 Ms. Adrian asks Tello whether there was a warrant and does she have a copy; she responds that she does but does not have it with her. English then advises that the warrant has recently been unsealed and will be provided in the normal course of discovery; no one asks for a copy at this point. (TR. 17, II.7 — 16.) At the and of Ms. Adrian’s questioning, she says she may have additional questions once she has seen the affidavit. Mr. English at this point apparently called his office and had a copy of the affidavit sent over, since it was needed by the defense; you evidently had a copy of the affidavit during your questioning of her. Consequently, I do not see the problem.
Under the circumstances of this case, it would seem that Mr. English did as much as was humanly possible to comply with the court’s discovery orders and facilitate the exchange of information. Any failures on his part to do so in a timely fashion do not appear to have been entirely his fault. I note that no one in this case found that Mr. English or other members of the prosecution had possession of reports or other evidence and intentionally “sat” on these items; the problem was more that the various law enforcement agencies (over which Mr. English has no control) were sometimes less than prompt in preparing reports and/or that too much information was provided at one time without (in the Court’s opinion) appropriate explanation. Again, I am not attempting to “overrule” the courts; it is merely that what a judge may find exasperating is not necessarily evidence that one has intentionally failed to expedite litigation, obstructed a party’s access to evidence or disobeyed an obligation under procedural rules in violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
(5) Failure to Assure the Presence of a Witness.
Of all of the allegations against Mr. English, this one is perhaps the most difficult to comprehend — and the most easily dismissed.
According to his own testimony, Officer Esquibel did receive a subpoena from Mr. English and understood that he was still under subpoena in October 1996 but claimed in have received a message from “someone” that he was “not needed in court” (and no message that he would be needed in court on October 28.) Consequently, he went off on an elk hunt and did not get the message to appear until his return from the wilderness on October 28th or 29th. Based upon this, the judge concluded that little or no effort was made to obtain the officer’s presence in her court and that Mr. English was at fault for this outrage. Judge Vazquez even complained that had the government but sent a FAX to someone at APD, that department would have been able to reach him (although it is not clear how this would have been accomplished.)
The judge apparently believed every word of Officer Esquibel’s testimony and none of the government’s argument. While I agree that it is important to see a witness who is giving testimony and that Judge Vazquez was certainly in a better position that I to assess the officer’s credibility, the ruling makes no sense to me for several reasons. When one considers how difficult it is to get an elk license in this state (there is a lottery, I believe) and the fact even if one is fortunate enough to obtain such a license, it is for a limited period of time (four days only, I am told.) It is not difficult to understand why Officer Esquibel might have been fairly anxious to use his when he did. If one considers his motivation for not appearing against any motivation Mr. English might have had for inconveniencing the court (which was already annoyed at him) by omitting to make efforts to secure the presence of a necessary witness, I have difficulty concluding that Mr. English had more reason to equivocate than Officer Esquibel. Additionally, given the fact that out of seventy (70) witnesses who were subpoenaed, sixty-nine (69) appeared, I find it highly improbable that the government’s effort to secure the presence of its witnesses or of this particular witness were inadequate. Why would an effort be made in sixty-nine instances but not in the seventieth?
The fact that a single witness was either confused or chose to ignore a subpoena for a few days is not sufficient evidence, in my opinion, to establish even a probable cause belief that Mr. English was attempting to obstruct access to evidence or disobey a court’s directive.
In conclusion, I would like to mention that I have the greatest respect for Judge Vazquez and for the attorneys assigned to defend these cases. I have no doubt that this was an extremely stressful experience for everyone involved and that levels of frustration and anxiety were high. Nonetheless, the reviewing officer and I simply cannot conclude that Messrs. English and .. were to blame for this or that either violated the Rules of Professional Conduct. While it is certainly possible that mistakes were made, this would not give rise to a finding of intentional misconduct.
Accordingly, the Disciplinary Board will be taking no further action; but on behalf of the Board, I thank you for bringing this matter to its attention. It is only with such cooperation from attorneys that this office is able to monitor the conduct of attorneys and when necessary, impose the appropriate sanction.
Very truly yours,
Virginia L. Ferrara
Chief Disciplinary Counsel
VLF/eda
. As we acknowledged in Gonzales, 164 F.3d at 1291, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure do not require such "face-to-face” encounters. See Fed.R.Crim.P. 16. Indeed, criminal defendants are entitled to rather limited discovery under federal law. See Degen v. United States, 517 U.S. 820, 825, 116 S.Ct. 1777, 135 L.Ed.2d 102 (1996). The record in this case, however, reveals the district court, in its "supervisory power,” entered discovery orders exceeding the requirements of the federal discovery rules which the Government never challenged on appeal. The district court admitted "the Government’s discovery obligations here are not based on Rule 16.” In addition to requiring the aforesaid encounters, the district court, for instance, required the Government to provide defense counsel addresses and in-person access to witnesses who had been placed in the Witness Security Program to protect them from Defendants. The court further required the Government to provide defense counsel, within two days of an interview, any information that an agent
. Although the report originally was confidential, Attorney English has made it a part of the public record in this case.
. After the Boafd issued its report, Attorney English, now represented by counsel, unsuccessfully filed a "Petition for Relief Under the All Writs Act, and for a Writ of Error Coram Nobis or Other Extraordinary Writ, or in the Alternative, a Motion to Recall the Mandate Seeking Review of this Court's Opinion in United States v. Gonzales, 164 F.3d 1285 (10th Cir.1999).”
. A sanction order against counsel generally is appealable only after entry of final judgment, and then only as a "final decision” under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Law v. National Collegiate Athletic Ass'n, 134 F.3d 1025, 1029 (10th Cir.1998); G.J.B. & Assoc., Inc. v. Singleton, 913 F.2d 824, 829 (10th Cir.1990). English's appeal is post-judgment and the "decision” he appeals from is "final.”
. Compare Bolte v. Home Ins. Co., 744 F.2d 572 (7th Cir.1984). In Bolte, the district court found two insurance defense attorneys had concealed a defense witness’ identity and statements. The court described their conduct as "reprehensible,” but imposed no formal sanction upon them. The Seventh Circuit dismissed the attorneys direct appeal for lack of a "final decision.” Judge Posner broadly reasoned, perhaps correctly in the abstract, that "Congress, in making ‘final decisions’ of district courts appealable in 28 U.S.C. § 1291, [did not] mean[] to allow people who were not even parties to a lawsuit in the district court to appeal from a wounding or critical or even palpably injurious comment or finding by a district judge.” Id. at 573. Bolte's reasoning, which may reflect "distaste for the [attorneys’] position or lack of concern with injury of the nature alleged" has been labeled "dubious.” 15A Charles A. Wright, Arthur R. Miller, & Edward H. Cooper, Federal Practice and Procedure § 3902.1, at 130-31 & n.52 (1992). Given Bolte's holding, the court did not definitively resolve whether "the stigma of being accused by a federal judge of 'reprehensible' conduct is [in itself] injury enough to satisfy the standing requirement in Article III of the Constitution.” Bolte, 744 F.2d at 573. The court suggested it might "by analogy to the injury on which the tort of defamation is based.” Id. Similarly, the Seventh Circuit decision which the Court cites, Clark Equip. Co. v. Lift Parts Mfg. Co. Inc., 972 F.2d 817, 820 (7th Cir.1992), did not turn on standing but rather relied exclusively on Bolte (i.e., the lack of a final decision) to hold "an attorney may not appeal from an order that finds misconduct but does not result in monetary liability, despite the potential reputational effects.” The Federal Circuit recently questioned both Bolte and Clark Equipment. Precision Specialty Metals, Inc. v. United States, 315 F.3d 1346, 1350-53 (Fed.Cir.2003) (holding a court's formal reprimand of an attorney for misconduct appealable).
. The district court in Weeks disqualified plaintiffs counsel from participating in the litigation due to improper ex parte communications. We held counsel had standing to appeal the disqualification order based on injury to her professional reputation. "The disqualification order is a sanction directly affecting [counsel], and a favorable court decision would likely provide at least some redress from the injury from the sanction because it could help ameliorate the damage to her professional reputation from the sanction order.” Weeks, 230 F.3d at 1207.
. Notably, neither Williams nor Weissman involved findings of intentional misrepresentation to the court.
.Attorneys under the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice (DOJ) must report to their supervisors any “statement by a judge or magistrate indicating a belief that misconduct by a Department employee has occurred.” United States Attorneys' Manual, § 1-4.120(A). Whenever a judge or magistrate makes a finding that a DOJ attorney has engaged in misconduct, the attorney must immediately report the finding to the DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility “regardless whether the matter is regarded as serious or non-serious.” Id. § 1-4.120(B). Needless to say, a court may do much damage to an attorney’s career within DOJ.
. Whether the law of the case doctrine applies to questions of fact is uncertain. Johnson v. Champion, 288 F.3d 1215, 1226 (10th Cir.2002). Even if the doctrine does apply to such questions, however, I do not believe it binds the Court in this case given the intervening change in circumstances, namely the Disciplinary Board’s findings and conclusions. Law of the case principles are not absolute. See Kennedy v. Lubar, 273 F.3d 1293, 1299 (10th Cir.2001). The doctrine is “to be applied at the sound discretion of the court to effectuate the proper administration of justice.” United States v. Gama-Bastidas, 222 F.3d 779, 785 (10th Cir.2000) (internal quotations omitted). Reasons for departing from the law of the case include (1) an intervening change in controlling law, (2) the availability of new evidence, (3) the need to correct clear error, and (4) the need to prevent manifest injustice. See Kennedy, 273 F.3d at 1299 n. 6. Given the Board’s findings, the latter three reasons seem particularly relevant here.