Court Opinion

ID: 9468556
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 02:17:41.298728+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:40:55.404561
License: Public Domain

CARROLL, District Judge,
dissenting:
I concur in the reversal of Gere’s conviction of violating 18 U.S.C. § 844(i).
I would also reverse the mail fraud counts and remand for a new trial as to those counts. In my view, the totality of the instruction problems about which Gere complains affected his substantial rights to a fair and impartial trial.
A significant portion of the government’s case against Gere involved statements made by the putative co-conspirator and conditionally admitted pending establishment of the conspiracy. Gere moved for a mistrial when the conspiracy count was dismissed. The motion was based on the nature and extent of the co-conspirator statements heard by the jury during the four and one-half weeks trial. The court denied the motion, but agreed to further instruct the jury to the effect that Gere could not be convicted on the basis of what the dismissed co-conspirator said or did. The court did not provide counsel with a copy of the proposed instruction, nor did it state on the record the full text of any instruction.
The court failed to give the cautionary instruction in its charge and trial counsel failed to make an additional request or objection before the case went to the jury. Under these circumstances, I would find reversible error. Fed.R.Crim.P. 52, Ramer v. U.S., 390 F.2d 564, 580 (9th Cir. 1968). See also U. S. v. Kelinson, 205 F.2d 600, 601-602 (2nd Cir. 1953).
This court’s opinion sets forth the background for Gere’s second problem with the trial court’s instructions having to do with the so-called immune-witness instruction. The trial court had agreed to give the “substance” of an instruction requested by Gere, but did not advise counsel as to the text of the court’s proposed revision either before argument or the giving of the “substance” instruction to the jury. Again, the problem arises from counsel not having an opportunity to object in a meaningful and timely manner. An appellate court is then left to resolve what the trial court “agreed” to do, and decide whether the defendant was prejudiced by the instruction as given. The procedure in this instance would appear in conflict with the provisions of Fed.R. Crim.P. 30 that “The court shall inform counsel of its proposed action upon the requests [of counsel] prior to their arguments to the jury ...”