What is the test for prejudice when a prosecution fails to disclose material exculpatory evidence to a grand jury?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from Breceda v. Superior Court of L.A. Cnty., B244574 (Cal. App. 2013):

"In evaluating prejudice, one relevant consideration is the extent to which the prosecution's disclosure deficiency interfered with the grand jury's independent investigatory function. Because the grand jury is expected to act independently and prevent unwarranted prosecutions and yet must rely on the prosecution to present the evidence without participation by the defense, the prosecution is statutorily required to inform the grand jury of the existence of material exculpatory evidence. If the prosecution fails to comply with its disclosure duty and its failure undermines the grand jury's ability to perform an independent investigation, this may be a significant indication that the disclosure error affected the grand jury's finding. [Citations.]" (Berardi v. Superior Court (2007) 149 Cal.App.4th 476, 494.)

Petitioners have carried their burden to demonstrate that they were prejudiced by the failure of the prosecution to present Resolution No. 2002-17-1808 and the 2002 memorandum to the grand jury, because those factors are probative as to whether petitioners believed that they were acting lawfully. For a charge of embezzlement, the taking must be fraudulent: "'"The essential elements of embezzlement are the fiduciary relation arising where one intrusts property to another, and the fraudulent appropriation of the property by the latter."'" (People v. Talbot (1934) 220 Cal. 3, 15.) '"[F]raudulent

Page 25

intent is an essential element of the offense of embezzlement . . . .'" (Id. at p. 13.)

Other Questions


When a prosecutor manipulates the array of evidence before the grand jury, does the prosecutor have a duty to inform the jury of exculpatory evidence of which he or she is aware of? (California, United States of America)
Does the jury's decision to acquit Wash of burglary and dissuading a witness mean that the jury did not categorically accept all of the prosecution's evidence and reject all the defense evidence? (California, United States of America)
When a prosecutor said that appellant had failed to produce any evidence at trial, and the appellant failed to present any evidence to the jury, is that comment improper or harmless? (California, United States of America)
What is the legal test for a prosecution failure to disclose material evidence to the defense? (California, United States of America)
Does a jury's misconduct in a jury trial prejudice a defendant who refused to take the witness stand because the jury did not want to hear from him? (California, United States of America)
What is the legal test for failing to disclose evidence relevant to the impeachment of a prosecution witness? (California, United States of America)
What is the difference between a jury's belief in the prosecution and the jury's opinion that the prosecution argued planning and execution was not planning or execution? (California, United States of America)
Is a judge's comment on the evidence that the defense argued that the evidence presented before the jury was "objectionable to the prosecution" sufficient to constitute misconduct? (California, United States of America)
Is there any evidence that there was bias, prejudice, or discrimination against a jury at a jury trial? (California, United States of America)
Does a jury's misconduct in a jury trial prejudice a defendant who refused to take the witness stand because the jury did not want to hear from him? (California, United States of America)
X



Alexi white


"The most advanced legal research software ever built."

Trusted by top litigators from across North America.