Opinion ID: 2998236
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Jury Instructions on Newspaper Articles

Text: At trial, Dumeisi requested Defendant’s Instruction No. 5: “It is not a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 951(a) to publish a news article.” The court refused this instruction, instead giving the following: The First Amendment to the Constitution protects the right to free speech and the freedom of the press. This means that individuals are permitted to express views that are controversial or even despicable. The speech that Mr. Dumeisi gave at the Iraqi Mission and newspaper articles he authored or published are protected by the First Amendment. The speech and newspaper articles, as well as Mr. Dumeisi’s opinion and political views, are to be considered only insofar as they may pertain to issues of motive and intent. (Tr. at 1177-78.) Dumeisi contends that the failure to give his instruction created the “very real probability that the jury’s verdict rested on the sole basis that Dumeisi printed articles in his newspaper.” The government, for its part, stated in a hearing before the district court that Dumeisi’s proposed instruction would be “a bit confusing, because one of the allegations [made against Dumeisi] is that . . . he acted . . . by publishing certain news articles that would enable him to identify opposition members.” (Tr. at 1031.) We review the district court’s refusal to give a theory of defense instruction de novo. United States v. Buchmeier, 255 F.3d 415, 426 (7th Cir. 2001). We find nothing improper in the district court’s instructions with respect to publishing a newspaper article. The limiting instructions to the jury on First Amendment protection—which, we note, were repeatedly given throughout the trial—stated that Dumeisi should not, and legally could not, be convicted simply for publishing unpopular or even “despicable” opinions. A jury is generally presumed to 20 No. 04-1882 follow limiting instructions. See, e.g., United States v. Smith, 308 F.3d 726, 739 (7th Cir. 2002). Given that an element of § 951 is acting “subject to the direction or control of a foreign government or official,” 18 U.S.C. § 951(d), and there was evidence suggesting that Dumeisi published certain articles at the behest of the IIS, we find this publication relevant and agree with the district court that Dumeisi’s proposed instruction would have been “misleading as to the law.” (Tr. at 1031.) Refusing Dumeisi’s proposed instruction did not deprive him of a fair trial; the instruction given meets the concern he raised at trial that his First Amendment-protected speech would be used as the sole basis for a guilty verdict. See Buchmeier, 255 F.3d at 426; United States v. Boykins, 9 F.3d 1278, 1287 (7th Cir. 1993).