Case: UNITED STATES, Appellee v. CHARLIE W. BABERS, Staff Sergeant, U. S. Air Force, Appellant
Abbreviation: United States v. Babers
Decision Date: 1960-01-15
Docket Number: No. 13,452
Citation: 11 C.M.A. 163
Volume: 11
Reporter: Decisions of the United States Court of Military Appeals
Court: United States Court of Military Appeals
Jurisdiction: United States
Parties: UNITED STATES, Appellee v CHARLIE W. BABERS, Staff Sergeant, U. S. Air Force, Appellant
Judges: Judge Latimer concurs.
Pages: 163–163

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES, Appellee v CHARLIE W. BABERS, Staff Sergeant, U. S. Air Force, Appellant
11 USCMA 163, 28 CMR 387
No. 13,452
Decided January 15, 1960
Lieutenant Colonel James L. Kilgore was on the brief for Appellant, Accused.
Colonel John F. Hannigan and Major Lawrence J. Gross were on the brief for Appellee, United States.

Opinion:
Opinion of the Court
ROBERT E. Quinn, Chief Judge:
The question in this case is whether the law officer erred to the prejudice of the accused by refusing to give the following requested instruction:
"A plea of guilty is a matter in mitigation which may be considered along with all the other facts and circumstances in the case. Time, effort, and expense to the Government usually are saved by a plea of guilty. Such a plea also may be a manifestation of repentance and a first step toward rehabilitation."
A similar issue was considered by us in United States v Rake, 11 USCMA 159, 28 CMR 383. For the reasons set out in our opinion in that case, we conclude that the law officer did not commit prejudicial error.
The decision of the board of review is affirmed.
Judge Latimer concurs.