Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/boundvolumes/529bv.pdf
Page Number: 829

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OHLER v. UNITED STATES

Opinion of the Court

Rehnquist, C. J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which O’Con-
nor, Scalia, Kennedy, and Thomas, JJ., joined. Souter, J., ﬁled a dis-
senting opinion, in which Stevens, Ginsburg, and Breyer, JJ., joined,
post, p. 760.

Benjamin L. Coleman, by appointment of the Court, 528
U. S. 984, argued the cause for petitioner. With him on the
briefs was Mario G. Conte.

Barbara McDowell argued the cause for the United
States. With her on the brief were Solicitor General Wax-
man, Assistant Attorney General Robinson, Deputy Solici-
tor General Dreeben, and Jonathan L. Marcus.*

Chief Justice Rehnquist delivered the opinion of the

Court.

Petitioner, Maria Ohler, was arrested and charged with
importation of marijuana and possession of marijuana with
the intent to distribute. The District Court granted the
Government’s motion in limine seeking to admit evidence
of her prior felony conviction as impeachment evidence
under Federal Rule of Evidence 609(a)(1). Ohler testiﬁed
at trial and admitted on direct examination that she had
been convicted of possession of methamphetamine in 1993.
The jury convicted her of both counts, and the Court of Ap-
peals for the Ninth Circuit afﬁrmed. We agree with the
Court of Appeals that Ohler may not challenge the in limine
ruling of the District Court on appeal.

Maria Ohler drove a van from Mexico to California in July
1997. As she passed through the San Ysidro Port of Entry,
a customs inspector noticed that someone had tampered
with one of the van’s interior panels.
Inspectors searched
the van and discovered approximately 81 pounds of mari-
juana. Ohler was arrested and charged with importation
of marijuana and possession of marijuana with the intent to

*Jody Manier Kris and Lisa Kemler ﬁled a brief for the National As-
sociation of Criminal Defense Lawyers et al. as amici curiae urging
reversal.