Court Opinion

ID: 9467897
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 01:59:16.947603+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:40:35.066761
License: Public Domain

FAY, Circuit Judge,
specially concurring:
I agree wholeheartedly with Judge Dyer’s opinion for the court but wish to add this statement regarding the submission of the trial court’s charges to the jury. While we are bound by Schilleci as we pointed out in United States v. Johnson, 558 F.2d 744 (5th Cir. 1977), that opinion must be read in light of its very peculiar fact situation and the combination of errors requiring reversal. As noted by Judge Dyer, the language in Schilleci states that the practice is not error in itself. Schilleci does express disapproval of the practice of furnishing the jury with written copies of the jury charge. That precise question has never been considered by our court en banc.
Personally, I feel the practice of furnishing a copy of the court’s instructions to the jury is both sound and proper. Additionally, I seriously doubt that the criticism of the practice found in Schilleci represents the current thinking of most trial and appellate judges within our circuit.