Court Opinion

ID: 9459990
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 21:37:16.517021+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:36:25.547035
License: Public Domain

BAZELON, Chief Judge
(concurring in part and dissenting in part):
The views on which I would resolve the issues in this case are set forth in my separate opinions in United States v. Brawner, 153 U.S.App.D.C. 1, 471 F.2d 969, at 1022-1034 (1972) (en banc) and United States v. Alexander & Murdock, 152 U.S.App.D.C. 371, 471 F.2d 923, at 948-951 (1972). On the issue of guilt or innocence, Judge Wright’s views are closest to my own. I cannot, however, accept his view that the addiction/responsibility defense should be limited to the offense of possession. I would also permit a jury to consider addiction as a defense to a charge of, for example, armed robbery or trafficking in drugs, to determine whether the defendant was under such duress or compulsion, because of his addiction, that he was unable to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law.
Although I disagree with the Court’s decision on the underlying responsibility issue, given that decision, the views on NARA and on sentencing expressed in Part V of Judge Leventhal’s opinion do seem useful. For the purpose of decision, therefore, I join in Part V of that opinion.