Court Opinion

ID: 9462298
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 22:37:32.097356+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:37:31.663725
License: Public Domain

FAIRCHILD, Chief Judge
(concurring).
With respect to Part VII, cross-examination of Judge McKenna, the questions concerning bias against the Department of Justice perhaps bear the analysis that they were within bounds. I do not think, in any event, that this series of questions affected the outcome of this trial, and therefore would not reverse on their account.
I do view them, however, as the type of questionable conduct government counsel should avoid. The suggested analysis is that the fact that the witness has been prosecuted for a federal offense raises some probability that he will color his testimony in favor of another federal defendant. This seems to me gossamer covering for the prosecutor’s real hope that the jury will view the witness less favorably because he was charged, though not convicted, with income tax evasion.