agurs argued april decided june respondent convicted murder killing one sewell knife fight evidence trial disclosed inter alia sewell killing carrying two knives including one respondent stabbed repeatedly stabbed respondent uninjured subsequently respondent counsel moved new trial asserting discovered sewell prior criminal record including guilty pleas charges assault carrying deadly weapon apparently knife tended support argument respondent acted prosecutor failed disclose information defense district denied motion ground evidence sewell criminal record material shed light character already apparent uncontradicted evidence particularly fact carrying two knives stressing inconsistency claim fact sewell stabbed repeatedly respondent unscathed appeals reversed holding evidence sewell criminal record material nondisclosure required new trial jury might returned different verdict evidence received held prosecutor failure tender sewell criminal record defense deprive respondent fair trial guaranteed due process clause fifth amendment appears record requested defense counsel gave rise inference perjury trial judge remained convinced respondent guilt beyond reasonable doubt considering criminal record context entire record judge firsthand appraisal entire record thorough entirely reasonable mooney holohan brady maryland distinguished pp prosecutor violate constitutional duty disclosure unless omission sufficiently significant result denial defendant right fair trial pp whether procedural rules authorizing discovery everything might influence jury might desirable constitution demand broad discovery mere possibility item undisclosed information might aided defense might affected outcome trial establish materiality constitutional sense pp prosecutor constitutional duty disclosure measured moral culpability willfulness suppression evidence results constitutional error character evidence character prosecutor proper standard materiality undisclosed evidence standard applied trial judge case omitted evidence creates reasonable doubt guilt otherwise exist constitutional error committed pp stevens delivered opinion burger stewart white blackmun powell rehnquist joined marshall filed dissenting opinion brennan joined post deputy solicitor general frey argued cause briefs solicitor general bork assistant attorney general thornburgh john cooney jerome feit robert plaxico edwin bradley argued cause respondent brief michael geltner william greenhalgh sherman cohn justice stevens delivered opinion brief interlude inexpensive motel room respondent repeatedly stabbed james sewell causing death convicted murder question us whether prosecutor failure provide defense counsel certain background information sewell tended support argument respondent acted deprived fair trial rule brady maryland answer question depends review facts significance failure defense counsel request material standard prosecution failure volunteer exculpatory material judged september respondent sewell registered motel man wife assigned room without bath sewell wearing bowie knife sheath carried another knife pocket less two hours earlier according testimony estranged wife cash person minutes later three motel employees heard respondent screaming help forced entry room disclosed sewell top respondent struggling possession bowie knife holding knife bleeding hand grasped blade according one witness trying jam blade chest employees separated two summoned authorities respondent departed without comment arrived sewell dead arrival hospital circumstantial evidence indicated parties completed act intercourse sewell gone bathroom hall struggle occurred upon return contents pockets disarray dresser money found jury may inferred respondent took sewell money fight started sewell room saw following morning respondent surrendered police given physical examination revealed cuts bruises kind except needle marks upper arm autopsy sewell disclosed several deep stab wounds chest abdomen number slashes arms hands characterized pathologist defensive wounds respondent offered evidence sole defense argument made attorney sewell initially attacked knife actions directed toward saving life support theory based fact screamed help sewell top help arrived possession two knives indicated person took jury minutes elect foreman return verdict three months later defense counsel filed motion new trial asserting discovered sewell prior criminal record evidenced violent character prosecutor failed disclose information defense recent opinion appeals district columbia circuit made clear evidence admissible even known defendant sewell prior record included plea guilty charge assault carrying deadly weapon another guilty plea charge carrying deadly weapon apparently weapons knives government opposed motion arguing duty tender sewell prior record defense absence appropriate request evidence readily discoverable advance trial hence kind newly discovered evidence justifying new trial events material district denied motion rejected government argument duty disclose material evidence unless requested assumed evidence admissible held sufficiently material district expressed opinion prior conviction shed light sewell character already apparent uncontradicted evidence particularly fact carried two knives stressed inconsistency claim fact sewell stabbed repeatedly respondent unscathed appeals reversed found lack diligence part defense misconduct prosecutor case held however evidence material nondisclosure required new trial jury might returned different verdict evidence received decision appeals represents significant departure prior holding believe incorrectly interpreted constitutional requirement due process reverse ii rule brady maryland arguably applies three quite different situations involves discovery trial information known prosecution unknown defense first situation typified mooney holohan undisclosed evidence demonstrates prosecution case includes perjured testimony prosecution knew known perjury series subsequent cases consistently held conviction obtained knowing use perjured testimony fundamentally unfair must set aside reasonable likelihood false testimony affected judgment jury line cases appeals placed primary reliance cases applied strict standard materiality involve prosecutorial misconduct importantly involve corruption function trial process since case involves misconduct since reason question veracity prosecution witnesses test materiality followed mooney line cases necessarily applicable case second situation illustrated brady case characterized pretrial request specific evidence case defense counsel requested extrajudicial statements made brady accomplice one boblit held suppression one boblit statements deprived brady due process noting specifically statement requested material fair analysis holding brady indicates implicit requirement materiality concern suppressed evidence might affected outcome trial brady found guilty murder first degree since jury add words without capital punishment verdict sentenced death trial brady deny involvement deliberate killing testified accomplice boblit rather actually strangled decedent version event corroborated one several confessions made boblit given brady counsel despite admittedly adequate request conviction sentence affirmed appeal brady filed motion set aside judgment later proceeding alleged state violated constitutional rights suppressing boblit confession trial judge denied relief largely felt boblit confession inadmissible brady trial maryland appeals disagreed ordered new trial issue punishment held withholding material evidence even without guile denial due process valid theories confession might admissible brady defense granted certiorari consider brady contention violation constitutional right fair trial vitiated entire proceeding holding suppression exculpatory evidence violated brady right due process affirmed separate holding receive new trial issue punishment issue guilt innocence interpreted maryland appeals opinion ruling confession inadmissible issue reason confession affected outcome issue guilt affected brady punishment material latter issue former since material issue guilt entire trial lacking due process test materiality case like brady specific information requested defense necessarily case request made indeed yet decided whether prosecutor obligation provide defense counsel exculpatory information request made addressing question brief comment function request appropriate brady request specific gave prosecutor notice exactly defense desired although course duty provide defense counsel unlimited discovery everything known prosecutor subject matter request material indeed substantial basis claiming materiality exists reasonable require prosecutor respond either furnishing information submitting problem trial judge prosecutor receives specific relevant request failure make response seldom ever excusable many cases however exculpatory information possession prosecutor may unknown defense counsel situation may make request possibly ask brady material anything exculpatory request really gives prosecutor better notice request made duty respond general request kind must derive obviously exculpatory character certain evidence hands prosecutor evidence clearly supportive claim innocence gives prosecution notice duty produce duty equally arise even request made whether focus desirability precise definition prosecutor duty potential harm defendant conclude significant difference cases merely general request exculpatory matter cases like one must decide request third situation brady rule arguably applies typified case therefore embraces case general request brady material made consider whether prosecutor constitutional duty volunteer exculpatory matter defense standard materiality gives rise duty iii considering scope discovery authorized federal rules criminal procedure wisdom amending rules enlarge defendant discovery rights dealing defendant right fair trial mandated due process clause fifth amendment constitution construction clause apply equally comparable clause fourteenth amendment applicable trials state courts problem arises two principal contexts first advance trial perhaps course trial well prosecutor must decide anything voluntarily submit defense counsel second trial judge may required decide whether nondisclosure deprived defendant right due process logically standard must apply times unless omission deprived defendant fair trial constitutional violation requiring verdict set aside absent constitutional violation breach prosecutor constitutional duty disclose nevertheless significant practical difference pretrial decision prosecutor decision judge dealing inevitably imprecise standard significance item evidence seldom predicted accurately entire record complete prudent prosecutor resolve doubtful questions favor disclosure reiterate critical point prosecutor violated constitutional duty disclosure unless omission sufficient significance result denial defendant right fair trial appeals appears assumed prosecutor constitutional obligation disclose information might affect jury verdict statement constitutional standard materiality approaches sporting theory justice expressly rejected brady jury appraisal case might affected improper trivial consideration well evidence giving rise legitimate doubt issue guilt everything might influence jury must disclosed way prosecutor discharge constitutional duty allow complete discovery files matter routine practice whether procedural rules authorizing broad discovery might desirable constitution surely demand much expressing opinion representatives state may suppress substantial material evidence former chief justice traynor california pointed duty report sua sponte defendant learn case witnesses imbler cal recently noted constitutional requirement prosecution make complete detailed accounting defense police investigatory work case moore illinois mere possibility item undisclosed information might helped defense might affected outcome trial establish materiality constitutional sense believe constitutional obligation measured moral culpability willfulness prosecutor evidence highly probative innocence file presumed recognize significance even actually overlooked cf giglio conversely evidence actually probative significance purpose served requiring new trial simply inept prosecutor incorrectly believed suppressing fact vital defense suppression evidence results constitutional error character evidence character prosecutor district recognized case situations evidence obviously substantial value defense elementary fairness requires disclosed even without specific request though attorney sovereign must prosecute accused earnestness vigor must always faithful client overriding interest justice shall done servant law twofold aim guilt shall escape innocence suffer berger description prosecutor duty illuminates standard materiality governs obligation disclose exculpatory evidence one hand fact evidence available prosecutor submitted defense places different category simply discovered neutral source trial reason defendant satisfy severe burden demonstrating newly discovered evidence probably resulted acquittal standard applied usual motion new trial based newly discovered evidence evidence state possession found neutral source special significance prosecutor obligation serve cause justice hand since rejected suggestion prosecutor constitutional duty routinely deliver entire file defense counsel consistently treat every nondisclosure though error necessarily follows judge order new trial every time unable characterize nondisclosure harmless customary standard standard error present record reviewing judge must set aside verdict judgment unless conviction sure error influence jury slight effect kotteakos unless every nondisclosure regarded automatic error constitutional standard materiality must impose higher burden defendant proper standard materiality must reflect overriding concern justice finding guilt finding permissible supported evidence establishing guilt beyond reasonable doubt necessarily follows omitted evidence creates reasonable doubt otherwise exist constitutional error committed means omission must evaluated context entire record reasonable doubt guilt whether additional evidence considered justification new trial hand verdict already questionable validity additional evidence relatively minor importance might sufficient create reasonable doubt statement standard materiality describes test courts appear applied actual cases although standard phrased different language also standard trial judge applied case evaluated significance sewell prior criminal record context full trial recalled detail stressing particular incongruity claim sewell aggressor evidence multiple wounds respondent unscathed condition trial judge indicated unqualified opinion respondent guilty noted sewell prior record contradict evidence offered prosecutor largely cumulative evidence sewell wearing bowie knife sheath carrying second knife pocket registered motel since arrest record requested even arguably give rise inference perjury since considering context entire record trial judge remained convinced respondent guilt beyond reasonable doubt since satisfied firsthand appraisal record thorough entirely reasonable hold prosecutor failure tender sewell record defense deprive respondent fair trial guaranteed due process clause fifth amendment accordingly judgment appeals reversed footnotes moreover motel clerk testified sewell wife said use knife however sewell denied making statement dispute fact sewell carried bowie knife registered see burks app saying request know exists essence brady arguing status law report indicating fingerprints taken fingerprints item defendant alleged assaulted somebody turn defendant absent specific request information obligation defense counsel clarke honor another aspect comes whether government knowingly puts perjured testimony obligation correct perjured testimony talking perjured testimony anything say nothing got report know possibly exculpatory defense counsel know misinformed suppose know made specific request information say status law brady obligation prosecutor open mouth clarke honor materiality items becomes less point material request else government like defense notice app app opinion appeals disposed direct appeal filed respondent sentenced well two additional appeals taken two orders denying motions new trial denial first motion respondent counsel requested leave withdraw order enable substitute counsel file new motion new trial ground trial counsel representation ineffective request sewell criminal record reason incorrectly believed inadmissible district denied motion although action challenged appeal appeals find necessary pass validity ground think clear however counsel failure obtain sewell prior criminal record demonstrate ineffectiveness although majority active judges circuit well one members panel expressed doubt validity panel decision refused rehear case en banc mooney alleged petitioner conviction based perjured testimony knowingly used prosecuting authorities order obtain conviction also authorities deliberately suppressed evidence impeached refuted testimony thus given held allegations true establish fundamental unfairness justify collateral attack petitioner conviction requirement deemed satisfied mere notice hearing state contrived conviction pretense trial truth used means depriving defendant liberty deliberate deception jury presentation testimony known perjured contrivance state procure conviction imprisonment defendant inconsistent rudimentary demands justice obtaining like result intimidation pyle kansas alcorta texas napue illinois miller pate giglio donnelly dechristoforo see giglio supra quoting napue supra hold suppression prosecution evidence favorable accused upon request violates due process evidence material either guilt punishment irrespective good faith bad faith prosecution although mooney primarily concerned willful misbehavior prosecutor brady focused harm defendant resulting nondisclosure see discussions development note prosecutor constitutional duty reveal evidence defendant yale comment brady maryland prosecutor duty disclose chi rev md md petitioner denied due process law state suppression evidence trial began proceeding must commence stage petitioner overreached denial due process law vitiated verdict sentence rogers richmond verdict saved competent evidence support culombe connecticut brief petitioner brady maryland see comment chi supra present case unanimous appeals said nothing suppressed confession reduced appellant brady offense murder first degree read statement ruling admissibility confession issue innocence guilt sporting theory justice might assume suppressed confession used first trial judge ruling admissible issue innocence guilt might flouted jury might done first admitted confession stricken record raise trial strategy dignity constitutional right say deprival defendant sporting chance use bifurcated trial cf williams new york denies due process violates equal protection clause fourteenth amendment omitted opinion concurring judgment giles maryland justice fortas stated say convictions reversed ground information merely repetitious cumulative embellishing facts otherwise known defense presented without importance defense purposes preparation case trial disclosed defense counsel say state obligation communicate preliminary challenged speculative information brady maryland appeals expressly rejected good faith bad faith prosecutor controlling consideration hold suppression prosecution evidence favorable accused upon request violates due process evidence material either guilt punishment irrespective good faith bad faith prosecution principle mooney holohan punishment society misdeeds prosecutor avoidance unfair trial accused emphasis added nature prosecutor conduct controlling case like brady surely controlling prosecutor received specific request information hypothetical example given district judge case fingerprint evidence demonstrating defendant fired fatal shot standard generally applied lower courts evaluating motions new trial fed rule crim proc based newly discovered evidence see ashe thompson cert denied houle cert denied meyers heald see also wright federal practice procedure argued standard focus impact undisclosed evidence defendant ability prepare trial rather materiality evidence issue guilt innocence see note prosecutor constitutional duty reveal evidence defense yale standard unacceptable determining materiality generally recognized brady material two reasons first standard necessarily encompass incriminating evidence well exculpatory evidence since knowledge prosecutor entire case always useful planning defense second approach primarily involve analysis adequacy notice given defendant state always view notice component due process refers charge rather evidentiary support charge example one two eyewitnesses crime told prosecutor defendant definitely perpetrator statement disclosed defense hesitate reverse conviction resting testimony eyewitness fifty eyewitnesses identified defendant prosecutor neglected reveal without badly needed glasses misty evening crime said criminal looked something like defendant sure brief glimpse result might well different comment chi supra see stout cupp peterson lessard dickson cert denied tomaiolo one commentator identified three different standards way discussed previously earlier cases following standards determining materiality disclosure purposes enunciated evidence may merely helpful defense evidence raised reasonable doubt defendant guilt evidence character create substantial likelihood reversal comment materiality defense requests aids defining prosecutor duty disclosure iowa rev justice marshall justice brennan joins dissenting today holds prosecutor constitutional duty provide exculpatory evidence defense limited cases defense makes request evidence recognized existence duty volunteer exculpatory evidence narrowly defines category material evidence embraced duty deprive meaningful content considering appropriate standard materiality governing prosecutor obligation volunteer exculpatory evidence observes fact evidence available prosecutor submitted defense places different category simply discovered neutral source trial reason defendant satisfy severe burden demonstrating newly discovered evidence probably resulted acquittal standard generally applied motion fed rule crim proc based newly discovered evidence standard applied usual motion new trial based newly discovered evidence evidence state possession found neutral source special significance prosecutor obligation serve cause justice ante omitted however seemingly forgets precautionary words comes time state proper standard materiality applied cases involving neither knowing use perjury specific defense request item information cases prosecutor commits constitutional error holds omitted evidence creates reasonable doubt otherwise exist ante subsequent discussion makes clear defendant challenging prosecutor failure disclose evidence entitled relief view withheld evidence actually creates reasonable doubt guilt judge mind burden thus imposed defendant least severe severe burden generally faces rule motion surely judge able say evidence actually creates reasonable doubt guilt mind standard also conclude evidence probably resulted acquittal general rule standard short spite salutary precaution treats case prosecutor withholds evidence differently case evidence newly discovered neutral source prosecutor obligation serve cause justice reduced status borrow words special significance ante overriding concern cases one us defendant right fair trial one basic elements fairness criminal trial available evidence tending show innocence well tending show guilt fully aired jury particularly state zeal convict defendant suppress evidence might exonerate see moore illinois opinion marshall fundamental notion fairness pose irreconcilable conflict prosecutor reminds us prosecutor must always faithful client overriding interest justice shall done ante interest state served duty prosecutor advanced suppression evidence favorable defendant contrary prosecutor fulfills basic responsibility fully airs relevant evidence command recognize course exculpatory value defense item information often apparent prosecutor advance trial general obligation disclose exculpatory information doubt continues trial giving rise duty disclose information whose significance becomes apparent case progresses even conscientious prosecutor fail appreciate significance items information see keogh agree consideration well general interest finality judgments preclude granting new trial every case prosecutor failed disclose evidence value defense surely considerations require rigid rule intends applied relatively small number cases today ruling prosecution made knowing use perjury defense made specific request item information defendant entitled new trial withheld evidence actually creates reasonable doubt guilt judge mind respect rule completely odds overriding interest assuring evidence tending show innocence brought jury attention rule creates little incentive prosecutor conscientiously determine whether files contain evidence helpful defense indeed rule reinforces natural tendency prosecutor overlook evidence favorable defense creates incentive prosecutor resolve close questions disclosure favor concealment fundamentally rule usurps function jury trier fact criminal case rule explicitly establishes judge trier fact respect evidence withheld prosecution defendant fate sealed long evidence create reasonable doubt guilt judge mind regardless whether evidence reasonable men disagree import regardless words close case may asserts harsh standard materiality standard courts appear applied actual cases although standard phrased different language ante omitted basis assertion none cases cited support statement suggests judgment conviction sustained long judge remains convinced beyond reasonable doubt defendant guilt prevailing view federal courts standard materiality cases involving neither specific request information indications deliberate misconduct standard cases cited fully consistent quite different essentially following significant chance withheld evidence developed skilled counsel induced reasonable doubt minds enough jurors avoid conviction judgment conviction must set aside standard unlike reflects recognition determination must terms impact item evidence jury determination always made certainty approves limited category cases standard virtually identical one described reflecting prevailing view cases undisclosed evidence demonstrates prosecution case includes perjured testimony prosecution knew known perjury ante judgment conviction must set aside reasonable likelihood false testimony affected judgment jury ibid lesser burden defendant appropriate primarily withholding evidence contradicting testimony offered witnesses called prosecution involve corruption function trial process ante surely process corrupted withholding evidence favorable defense regardless whether evidence directly contradictory evidence offered prosecution example offered justice fortas serves illustrate point et us assume state possesses information blood found victim blood type match accused victim let us assume related testimony offered state giles maryland concurring judgment suppression information unquestionably corrupts process burden defendant establishing entitlement new trial different burden face related testimony elicited prosecution see derives reasonable likelihood standard cases involving perjury cases napue illinois giglio surely results cases standards applied different perjury involved napue giglio testifying defendants testified falsely response questioning defense counsel received promises prosecution prosecution failed disclose promises fact made corruption process stemmed suppression evidence affecting overall credibility witnesses see napue supra giglio supra corruption present whether defense counsel elicited statements witnesses denying promises made may contrary insistence treatment perjury cases reflects simply desire deter deliberate prosecutorial misconduct case might reasonably expect rule imposing lower threshold materiality imposes perhaps standard certainly expect rule apply broader category misconduct failure disclose evidence contradicts testimony offered witnesses called prosecution prosecutor guilty misconduct deliberately suppresses evidence clearly relevant favorable defense regardless whether evidence relates directly testimony given course government case case however involve deliberate prosecutorial misconduct leaving open question whether different rule might appropriately applied cases involving deliberate misconduct hold defendant case burden demonstrating significant chance withheld evidence developed skilled counsel induced reasonable doubt minds enough jurors avoid conviction essentially standard applied appeals affirm judgment burden generally imposed upon motion also described burden demonstrating newly discovered evidence probably produce different verdict event retrial see kahn rodriguez curran see keogh judge friendly implies standard adopts severe standard rejects emphasize harshness rule defendant fate determined finally judge judge entertain reasonable doubt guilt evidence withheld prosecution create reasonable doubt guilt judge mind end case rather defendant one might accurately say prosecution entitled case decided jury stout cupp habeas proceeding simply quoted district finding suppressed evidence introduced jury reached different result indication quoted language intended anything finding fact quite obviously dispose defendant claim standard might suggested peterson appeared require showing withheld evidence material aided defense lessard dickson found determinative withheld evidence hardly regarded able much force inexorable array incriminating circumstances defendant surrounded jury noted likely difficulty argument defense counsel made withheld evidence finally tomaiolo required defendant show evidence material substantial use defendant see morell ogden wolff woodcock amaral miller shuler wainwright kahn clarke burke hamric bailey significant difference standards described prevailing view made clear judge friendly writing miller stating conclusion new trial required government failure disclose defense pretrial hypnosis principal witness judge friendly observed reached conclusion reluctance particularly light considered belief able conscientious district judge lived case years review record light defense new trial motions left convinced correctness jury verdict also small exposure facts means convinced otherwise test however newly discovered evidence concerning hypnosis affect trial judge whether government case defendant already subject serious attack significant chance added item developed skilled counsel induced reasonable doubt minds enough jurors avoid conviction conscientiously say omitted presence deliberate prosecutorial misconduct desire deter misconduct presumably leads recognize rule readily permitting new trials cases involving specific defense request information significance defense request simply gives prosecutor notice important defense notice received failure disclose seldom ever excusable ante seem follow item information obvious importance defense escaped prosecutor attention suppression treated manner specific request precisely approach taken courts see morell miller kahn keogh