Court Opinion

ID: 9471345
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 03:29:49.037191+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:42:21.826052
License: Public Domain

CLARK, Circuit Judge,
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I concur in the reversal of the district court’s dismissal of the indictment. I agree with the majority that the indictment on its face satisfies the statute of limitations. I agree with the majority opinion that the RICO statute does not require an overt act and I agree to the correctness of United States v. Barton, 647 F.2d 224 (2d Cir.1981) cert. denied, 454 U.S. 857, 102 S.Ct. 307, 70 L.Ed.2d 152 (1981).
The reason for my dissent is that, in my opinion, our court is bound by our holding in United States v. Phillips, 664 F.2d 971, 1038 (5th Cir. Unit B 1981), cert. denied sub. nom. Meinster v. United States, 457 U.S. 1136, 102 S.Ct. 2965, 73 L.Ed.2d 1354 (1982). The majority states that the holding in Phillips is dictum. The rule in our circuit requiring that we follow precedent does not make a distinction for holdings which are dictum. See United States v. Adamson, 665 F.2d 649, 656 n. 19 (5th Cir. Unit B 1982). The main reason for following dictum is the difficulty in determining what is and is not dictum. I believe that en banc consideration is required before the panel can overrule Phillips, supra.