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Fred Hampton — Part 3
Page 120
120 / 251
116 Nos. 77-1698, 77-1210 & 77-1370
would be no place for it. The sad fact, however, is that
this is not the best of all worlds and crime, whether it is
caused by poverty, economic inequality, psychological
maladjustment, or other causes for which society may be
responsible, does continue to exist, and at the present
moment appears in no way to be declining. Particularly
with regard to those who have consciously embarked
upon a criminal career, one of the most effective ways of
learning of their activities and curtailing them is
through the use of confidential informants.
I would let the matter rest upon the determination of
Judge Perry, who had the opportunity to see and
evaluate Groth’s credibility. The fact that Groth declined
to reveal the informant’s identity to Judge Perry in
camera is a strong indication of the truth of his asser-
tion that the informant’s life would be endangered by
his identification. O’Neal’s identity could be revealed
even though his usefulness as an informant was thereby
ended because he was no longer associated with the
Black Panther Party. There is ample basis for belief
that if Groth’s informant were still in such an associa-
tion he would be in a position of retributive jeopardy.
I cannot -conceive that the scope of our appellate -
review is such as to permit us to conclude, as Judge
Swygert’s opinion does, that upon remand the identity of
the informer must be disclosed. The matter, if it really
is of significance, which I doubt on the facts of this case,
should be reexamined carefully in the light of Roviaro »v,
United States, 358 U.S. 53 (1957). By this court deciding
as a matter of law that the identity of the informer js
not entitled to protection, we are deciding a factual
matter in much the same way as that which the majori-
ty faults Judge Perry for doing.
4. Discovery matters. I have already earlier in this
dissent expressed my views on this subject. This was not
in trite parlance “a fine-tooth-comb” operation but was a
time-wasting and harassing “fishing expedition.”
_ 5. Evidentiary rulings. I find no basis for a reversal
n this respect. The Anderson plaintiffs’ claims for the
most part relate either to instances where the judge
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