Court Opinion

ID: 9484297
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 09:47:47.427468+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:50:09.128544
License: Public Domain

FLAUM, Circuit Judge,
concurring.
I agree with the opinions of Judge Posner and Judge Coffey to the extent that they establish that Lechuga’s conspiracy conviction is supported by substantial evidence. However, I view this case as one which does not compel consideration of the single-large-sale-for-resale question due to its particular facts. Therefore, I would postpone resolution of this challenging question until the court is confronted with a conspiracy conviction that depends solely on a single distribution-size sale. At this point, only informed dicta can result from any analysis of that issue.
Turning to the merits of the case before us, it is my opinion that the evidence of conspiracy is not quite as overwhelming as suggested by Judge Coffey. I believe Judge Cudahy’s thoughtful dissent, on the other hand, gives too little weight to the jury’s role in deciding difficult cases. After a verdict of guilty, we are obliged to view the evidence and reasonable inferences from it in the light most favorable to the government. This important principle reflects neither pro-government bias nor lazy acceptance of the results in close cases. Rather, it describes the proper deference we give the jury system. Here, the record presents sufficient evidence to support a rational jury’s verdict to convict, and we should not interfere with that judgment.