Opinion ID: 362254
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Submission of Indictment to the Jury

Text: 104 Finally, appellant strenuously objected to the submission of the indictment to the jury, arguing that no opportunity to provide a similar statement was provided to him and that it was extremely prejudicial. 105 The sum total of the government's response, without citation, is that this is a common practice in the Eighth Circuit. We do not agree that it is common, but it is a practice which is within the sound discretion of the trial court if the jury is properly admonished that the indictment is not evidence of any kind. That was done in this case. See United States v. McGrady, 508 F.2d 13, 21 (8th Cir. 1974), Cert. denied, 420 U.S. 979, 95 S.Ct. 1408, 43 L.Ed.2d 661 (1975); United States v. Warner, 428 F.2d 730, 736 (8th Cir.), Cert. denied, 400 U.S. 930, 91 S.Ct. 194, 27 L.Ed.2d 191 (1970). There was no abuse of discretion here.