Court Opinion

ID: 9530176
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 03:57:58.111726+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:01.059003
License: Public Domain

Mr. JUSTICE GEORGE J. MORAN, dissenting: The only question we are called upon to answer in this case is whether the dismissal of an indictment is warranted where absolutely no evidence has been presented to the grand jury on a necessary element of the offense. I agree that a trial court is generally without authority to inquire into the sufficiency of the evidence presented to the grand jury if some competent evidence has been presented to support each material element of the accusation. However, I believe that when evidence of an essential allegation is entirely absent, as in this case, it is proper for the trial court to dismiss the indictment. I would accordingly adopt the view expressed in Brady v. United States, 24 F.2d 405 (8th Cir. 1928), as the more logical approach to be followed in this case.