Court Opinion

ID: 9451096
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 17:06:21.845191+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:32:34.300025
License: Public Domain

DANAHER, Circuit Judge
(concurring) :
I quite agree with Judge Wright that affirmance is here in order. He properly observes that the appellant had made no attempt “to show that he was prejudiced by the delay between the date of the alleged offense and the date of his arrest.” I comment in addition that where an accused asserts an affirmative ground for relief, the courts have quite generally imposed upon him the burden of proving his entitlement.1
In these recurring “delay in arrest” cases 2 circumstances inevitably vary, so that in last analysis, each case presents an issue of fact for the jury.3 If an ac*824cused for reasons of his own chooses not to testify before the jury, he certainly to sustain his burden of proof may testify in support of a proper motion to be heard by the judge without the jury’s presence. That very course had been followed by Judge Pine, and we approved when we affirmed by order in Harvey v. United States (No. 17852, Oct. 4, 1963), often cited in our remand orders in cases not unlike this. The “dilemma” theory of the appellant’s argument lacks substance whether the claim of the accused be based upon “delay” or not.4
I agree there was no error.

. Nardone v. United States, 308 U.S. 338, 341, 60 S.Ct. 266, 84 L.Ed. 307 (1939); Wilson v. United States, 218 F.2d 754, 757 (10 Cir. 1955); Lotto v. United States, 157 F.2d 623, 626 (8 Cir. 1946).

. See, e.g., cases cited in footnote 1 of Judge Wright’s opinion. As for my views on the delay problem generally, see my dissenting opinion in Ross v. United States, 121 U.S.App.D.C. -, -, 349 F.2d 210, 216 (1965).

. See Wilson v. United States, 118 U.S.App.D.C. 319, 335 F.2d 982 (1963), rehearing en banc denied (1964); Morgan v. United States, 115 U.S.App.D.C. 310, 319 F.2d 711, rehearing en banc denied, *824cert. denied, 375 U.S. 884, 84 S.Ct. 158, 11 L.Ed.2d 114 (1963). The Supreme Court denied certiorari in Redfield v. United States, 377 U.S. 972, 84 S.Ct. 1654, 12 L.Ed.2d 741, and see 117 U.S.App.D.C. 231, 328 F.2d 532 (1964).

. See cases cited in footnote 6 of Judge Wright’s opinion.