Opinion ID: 546906
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Failure to give a specific good faith instruction.

Text: 30 Luffred asserts that the district court erred in denying her request for a specific good faith instruction. When the court instructs the jury as to the government's burden of proving that the defendant's conduct was willful and then properly defines that term, it adequately conveys the concept of the good faith defense. United States v. Gunter, 876 F.2d 1113 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 110 S.Ct. 198, 107 L.Ed.2d 152 (1989). Viewing the court's instruction in light of the entire trial, Gunter, 876 F.2d at 1119, we are satisfied that such was the case herein. We merely note that while an elaborate additional instruction may not be necessary, a defensive theory is best expressed by the judge. United States v. Fooladi, 746 F.2d 1027, 1031-32 (5th Cir.1984), cert. denied, 470 U.S. 1006, 105 S.Ct. 1362, 84 L.Ed.2d 382 (1985) (emphasis in original). A balanced instruction frequently requires such. 31