Opinion ID: 776368
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Motion to dismiss for failure to state an offense

Text: 12 In ruling on a pre-trial motion to dismiss an indictment for failure to state an offense, the district court is bound by the four corners of the indictment. See United States v. Jensen, 93 F.3d 667, 669 (9th Cir.1996); United States v. Caicedo, 47 F.3d 370, 371 (9th Cir.1995); United States v. Buckley, 689 F.2d 893, 897 (9th Cir.1982); United States v. Thordarson, 646 F.2d 1323, 1337 n. 25 (9th Cir.1981). On a motion to dismiss an indictment for failure to state an offense, the court must accept the truth of the allegations in the indictment in analyzing whether a cognizable offense has been charged. See Jensen, 93 F.3d at 669. The indictment either states an offense or it doesn't. There is no reason to conduct an evidentiary hearing. 13 This is unlike pre-trial motions to dismiss premised on other grounds, such as that the indictment violates the defendant's right against double jeopardy, on which a court may take evidence and make factual determinations. 1 See United States v. Covington, 395 U.S. 57, 89 S.Ct. 1559, 23 L.Ed.2d 94 (1969) (whether defendant faced risk of self-incrimination did not involve issues intertwined with the underlying offense). 14 A motion to dismiss the indictment cannot be used as a device for a summary trial of the evidence ... The Court should not consider evidence not appearing on the face of the indictment. Jensen, 93 F.3d at 669 (quoting United States v. Marra, 481 F.2d 1196, 1199-1200 (6th Cir.1973)); see also United States v. Sampson, 371 U.S. 75, 78-79, 83 S.Ct. 173, 9 L.Ed.2d 136 (1962) (Of course, none of these charges have been established by evidence, but at this stage of the proceedings the indictment must be tested by its sufficiency to charge an offense.). The unavailability of Rule 12 in determination of general issues of guilt or innocence ... helps ensure that the respective provinces of the judge and jury are respected.... United States v. Nukida, 8 F.3d 665, 670 (9th Cir.1993).