Legal Document

469 U.S. 57 105 S.Ct. 471 83 L.Ed.2d 461 UNITED STATES, Petitioner,v.Betty Lou POWELL. No. 83-1307. Argued Nov. 5, 1984. Decided Dec. 10, Syllabus Respondent was indicted on a number of counts for violations the federal narcotics laws. Count 1 charged her with conspiracy to possess cocaine intent distribute it. The "overt acts" listed in support this included tapped telephone conversations indicating that respondent helping husband and son drugs collect money sold. 9 possession specific quantity Counts 3-6 compound offenses using "committing causing facilitating" alleged possession, violation 21 U.S.C. § 843(b). jury acquitted 1, 6, 9, but convicted 3-5. On appeal, argued verdicts were inconsistent therefore she entitled reversal facilitation convictions. Court Appeals agreed. It acknowledged rule Dunn v. United States, 284 390, 52 189, 76 L.Ed. 356, defendant by one count cannot attack conviction because it verdict acquittal another count. view, however, situations where has been under 843(b) felony he is facilitating constitute exceptions rule, those must be reversed. court explained an predicate necessarily indicated there insufficient evidence convictions, mandated as well. Held: There no reason vacate respondent's convictions merely rationally reconciled. Pp. 62-69. (a) embodies prudent acknowledgment factors. First, verdicts—even acquit offense while convicting offense—should not interpreted windfall Government at defendant's expense. equally possible jury, convinced guilt, properly reached its conclusion offense, then through mistake, compromise, or lenity arrived lesser offense. But such recourse if wishes correct jury's error. fact inconsistency may result lenity, coupled Government's inability invoke review, suggests should reviewable behest. 64-66. (b) A would allow defendants challenge ground they some error worked against defendants, imprudent unworkable. based pure speculation require inquiries into deliberations courts generally will undertake. 66-67. (c) criminal already afforded protection irrationality independent review sufficiency undertaken trial appellate courts. P. 67. (d) To grant exception acquits convicts felony, threaten swallow rule. And argument than necessitates finding simply misunderstands nature problem, since incorrectly assumes proper. 67-69. (e) Here, given benefit count, neither irrational nor illogical accept burden counts. 69. 708 F.2d 455 719 1480, Mark I. Levy, Washington, D.C., petitioner. John J. Cleary, San Diego, Cal., respondent. Justice REHNQUIST delivered opinion Court. In 356 (1932), held could We granted certiorari case determine whether Ninth Circuit correctly enunciated when overturned 467 1203, 104 2383, 81 342 (1984). 2 1982, Betty Powell's husband, Ron Powell, aided his 17-year-old Jeff others, operating lucrative methaqualone distributorship from Powell home near Cal. Federal authorities Powells' pursuant order, many recorded, including least four which playing minor role drug distributorship. Three these owed fourth involved conversation travel agent booked airline ticket assumed name. April learned wiretap notified son, who called told leave drive Los Angeles. followed FBI agents, after difficulty1 managed stop arrest her. search car uncovered, inter alia, kilograms cocaine, 2,700 tablets, pistol, machine gun, silencers, $30,000 cash. 3 grand Southern District California 15 law. Ten transgressions laws; only three these, others.2 indictment conspiring "to knowingly intentionally cocaine." Four above-mentioned conversations. 9. 3, 4, 6 certain felonies—"conspiracy cocaine"—in 84 Stat. 1263, 843(b).3 6. 4 appeal inconsistent, She contended proof had conspired distribute, so possessed element each counts;4 consistent acquittals. States (1983). first rejected contention viewed might have found guilty other outlined 1; concluded "not government's claim . ."5 Id., 456. cited Bailey, 607 237, 245 (CA9 1979), cert. denied, 445 934, 100 1327, 63 769 (1980), Hannah, 584 27, 28-30 (CA3 1978), proposition reversed "when underlying reversed." F.2d, 5 petitioned rehearing, arguing ignored supra, trials need set aside, instead demonstration leniency. issued opinion, stating "follows rule," spelling out more detail court's view 1480 conviction, went reject explicitly different noted presented theory.6 address case, Courts Appeals, see supra; Brooks, 703 1273, 1278-1279 (CA11 1983), acted consistently recognizing case. 7 tried three-count charging liquor maintained common nuisance keeping intoxicating sale specified place; second third unlawful sale, liquor. him third. discharge inconsistent. Speaking Holmes, stated: 8 "Consistency necessary. Each regarded separate indictment. Latham Queen, Best & Smith 635, 642, 643. Selvester 170 262 [18 580, 42 1029]. If indictments maintenance nuisance, separately tried, same being offered each, pleaded res judicata other. Where are single hold. As said Steckler F. (2d) 59, 60 [ (2nd Cir.) ]: " 'The most can cases shows either did speak their real conclusions, does show guilt. interpret assumption power right exercise, disposed lenity.' Dunn, U.S., 393, S.Ct., 190. 10 Fifty-three years later what Holmes succinctly stated retains force. Indeed, although expressly reaffirming numerous occasions alluded established principle. Thus, Dotterweich, 320 277, 279, 64 134, 135, 88 48 (1943), invoked president corporation introducing adulterated misbranded interstate commerce, acquitting charge. recently, Harris Rivera, 454 339, 102 460, 70 530 (1981), again reaffirmed course holding obtain relief writ habeas corpus basis rendered state bench trial. This Dotterweich establish "the unreviewable return impermissible reasons." 346, 464. See also Standefer 447 22-23, 1999, 2007-2008, 689 (1980). 11 These decisions indicate once-established principle gradually eroded subsequent opinions Nevertheless, recent begun carve 27 1978). Morales, 677 (CA1 1982) (overturning all conspiracy). addition evidencing general displeasure allowing stand circumstances, distinguished that, submitted "interdependent" "as [were] indictment." 30. 12 stating, attempting distinguish facts, mean take issue 's statement "[i]f other." latter statement, incorrect time, Oppenheimer, 242 85, 87, 37 68, 69, 61 161 (1916), longer accepted light Sealfon 332 575, 68 92 180 (1948), Ashe Swenson, 397 436, 90 1189, 25 (1970), hold doctrine collateral estoppel apply circumstances. argues defect rationale precludes rule's application case; indeed, urges principles preclude acceptance felony. 13 believe rests sound theories judicata, survives upon presently erroneous reliance theories. noted, truly reached, "[t]he guilt." upset above quote suggests, error; precluded appealing otherwise upsetting Constitution's Double Jeopardy Clause. Green 355 184, 188, 78 221, 223, 199 (1957); Kepner 195 100, 130, 133, 24 797, 804, 805, 49 114 (1904). 14 Inconsistent present situation "error," sense instructions, certainly occurred, unclear whose ox gored. Given uncertainty, challenging acquittal, hardly satisfactory receive new matter course. indicates nothing Constitution protection, we problem our supervisory powers over process. For us, possibility favor well militates premise alternative rationale—that inconsistencies often product lenity. both commentators recognition historic function, trials, check arbitrary oppressive exercises Executive Branch. See, e.g., May bury, 274 899, 902 (CA2 1960) (Friendly, J.); Bickel, Judge Jury—Inconsistent Verdicts Courts, Harv.L.Rev. 649, 652 (1950). Cf. Duncan Louisiana, 391 145, 155-156, 1444, 1450-1451, 20 491 (1968). exercise falls Government, suggested available difficult avoid all-or-nothing verdict. 652. Such act is, recognized, "assumption [the has] exercise," illegality alone collective judgment subject review. reviewable.7 16 reject, unworkable, them. individualized assessment speculation, Jurors, course, oath follow law charged, expected Adams Texas, 448 38, 2521, 65 581 end begin voir dire, judge counsel, seeking identify jurors whatever unwilling unable render impartial facts evidence. few exceptions, McDonough Power Equipment, Inc. Greenwood, 464 548, 556, 845, 850, 663 (1984); Phillips, 209, 217, 940, 946, 71 (1982), once heard submitted, litigants judgment. always resisted inquiring thought processes, McDonald Pless, 238 264, 35 783, 59 1300 (1915); Fed.Rule Evid. 606(b) (stating incompetent testify concerning deliberations); deference brings process, community, needed finality. 17 Finally, note confused problems caused verdicts. Sufficiency-of-the involves adduced any rational determination beyond reasonable doubt. Glasser 315 60, 80, 62 457, 469, 86 680 (1942); Crim.Proc. 29(a); cf. Jackson Virginia, 443 307, 316, 319, 99 2781, 2789, 560 (1979). insufficient. convince proof, satisfy do further safeguards 18 contends, nevertheless, made "exception" almost own weight. acceptability belied itself. liquor, maintaining place. counts, Butler's dissent persuasively points without possessed, sold, 398, 192. Respondent's threatens 19 Second, problem. Whether argument, collaterally estop proper—the "really meant." This, correct; know just easily—and erroneously—argue sufficient. results; estoppel—which predicated reaching verdict—are useful. altered instructs find convict Although instruction independent, nevertheless still likely rationale. impasse, factors detailed above—the reluctance inquire workings lenity—suggest best insulate ground.8 Turning hand, facilitate offenses. dispute here. reasons previously stated, acquitted, convicted. stood 53 years. remain way, think should, 22 Reversed. twice eluded agents before eventually stopped. succeeded time running vehicle. Of remaining five illegal firearms. these. last making false statements petition court-appointed counsel. affirmed appeal. 455, 457 1983). Title provides part: "(b) shall person use communication facility committing commission acts constituting provision subchapter II chapter. subsection." lower seem agree prove, accused facilitating. Ward, 696 1315, 1319 (CA11), 103 2101, 77 308 (1983); Watson, 594 1330, 1342-1344 (CA10 1979). purposes conceded After concluded: "We adhere ." 1481. seizes language, similar language original argue actually determined record law, context proves unsupportable. expressing acquittals required somewhat cryptic contrary. Neither sufficiency-of-the-evidence test even cited. alternatively us conduct record. clear preserved below, event pass claim, decline instance. claims urged affirmance. concerns expressed refusing nonmutual prosecution aider abettor principal. Citing emphasized mistake prior trial, instigation. Under circumstances refused non-mutual manner. 2007-2008. Nothing intended decide proper resolution two crimes, logically excludes guilt Daigle, 149 F.Supp. 409 (DC), aff'd per curiam, 101 U.S.App.D.C. 286, 248 608 (1957), 913, 344, (1958).

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