Opinion ID: 441993
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: claimed instructional error

Text: 130 The last claim of error relates to a statement by the court, in its final charge to the jury, respecting the federal election element of the offenses charged. The court instructed that the election had to be at least in part a federal election, but that the conduct alleged did not itself have to affect or relate to federal positions on the ballot. It then gave the now complained of instruction: 131 So that all you have to be satisfied of--and I suggest, in this case, it's really not disputed--is that, in that particular election, there was a federal race going on. There were actually two, as I recall [one for senator and one for congressman].... So that I suggest to you that the government has probably proved that one element in the case. But I'm just telling you, for your information, that that is the law. The government has to prove that the election did, at least in part, involved federal officials, but does not have to prove that the actual activity was directed towards the federal race. (R. 891-92.) 132 It is claimed that the above-quoted instruction amounted to a directed verdict, or an improper comment on the evidence, with respect to whether the election included one or more federal positions. 133 We note that the court did not fail to instruct the jury on the federal election element of the offense and did not withdraw that element from the jury's consideration. The jury was expressly told that it [had] to be satisfied that there was a federal race going on and that the government has to prove that the election did, at least in part, involve[ ] federal officials. And at another place in the charge, 22 the court told the jury: 134 ... [W]hat the government has to prove on counts two and three against each defendant, beyond a reasonable doubt, is the following: number one, ...; number two, ...; and, number three, that the payment or the offer to pay was made to a voter in connection with a general, special, or primary election which, at least in part, was for the purpose of selecting or electing a federal official .... (R. 890.) 135 Further, the court expressly told the jury at the beginning of the charge: 136 ... I have the right to give my own summary and analysis of the evidence and even that wouldn't be binding [on you]. It is your own analysis. You are the supreme judges of the facts. The only thing you have to accept from me are my legal instructions. (R. 883.) 23 137 Of course, it is settled, as the district court instructed the jury here (see note 22, supra ), that a single instruction to a jury may not be judged in artificial isolation, but must be viewed in the context of the overall charge. Cupp v. Naughten, 414 U.S. 141, 146-47, 94 S.Ct. 396, 400-01, 38 L.Ed.2d 368 (1973). 138 While the trial court may under no circumstances withdraw any element of an offense from the jury's consideration in a criminal case, nevertheless the judge may comment on the evidence, so long as he instructs the jury that they are not bound by his comments. United States v. Johnson, 718 F.2d 1317, 1324-25 (5th Cir.1983). The trial judge here did not transgress either of those lines. 139 A trial judge's comments on the evidence may also be error if they seriously prejudice the defendant. Id. at 1325. We discern no such prejudice here. There was clear, positive, unimpeached, and uncontradicted evidence that this was a federal election at which there was a contested race for United States senator and an election for the United States House of Representatives. That this was so was not in any sense a contested issue at trial. See Horning v. District of Columbia, 254 U.S. 135, 138, 41 S.Ct. 53, 54, 65 L.Ed. 185 (1920) (where there is no dispute in the evidence, judge may so state); id. at 139, 41 S.Ct. at 54 (dissenting opinion; in criminal case the judge may ... express his opinion whether facts alleged have been proved); United States v. Natale, 526 F.2d 1160, 1167 (2d Cir.1975), cert. denied, 425 U.S. 950, 96 S.Ct. 1724, 48 L.Ed.2d 193 (1976) (where evidence is undisputed as to certain elements of offense, judge may say so). Under the circumstances, there is no meaningful possibility that the verdict would have been otherwise had the now complained of comment not been made. Thus there was no serious prejudice to the defendant. Finally, we note that no objection was made to this portion of the charge (see note 21, supra). The instant complaint does not present plain error as defined above. See Montemayor at 1124. See also Johnson at 1325 n. 23; Fitzgerald v. United States, 324 F.2d 153 (5th Cir.1963) (per curiam), cert. denied, 376 U.S. 944, 84 S.Ct. 798, 11 L.Ed.2d 768 (1964). 140 We reject appellants' complaint of the charge.