C. A. 9th Cir. Certiorari denied.
with whom Justice Brennan joins,
dissenting.
This case presents the question whether, in a prosecution for mail fraud under 18 U. S. C. § 1341 , a defendant who makes out an adequately supported defense of good faith is entitled to a separate jury instruction on that issue when the court gives a sufficient instruction on specific intent. Here, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that if a specific-intent instruction adequately covers the issue of good faith, that is sufficient to present the defense to the jury, and the defendant is not entitled to a separate good-faith instruction. 745 F. 2d 1205 (1984). Three other Courts of Appeals have reached the same conclusion. United States v. Gambler, 213 U. S. App. D. C. 278 , 281, 662 F. 2d 834 , 837 (1981); United States v. Bronston, 658 F. 2d 920 , 930 (CA2 1981), cert. denied, 456 U. S. 915 (1982); United States v. Sherer, 653 F. 2d 334 , 337-338 (CA8), cert. denied, 454 U. S. 1034 (1981). Both the Fifth Circuit in United States v. Fowler, 735 F. 2d 823 , 828 (1984), and the Tenth Circuit in United States v. Hopkins, 744 F. 2d 716 , 718 (1984) (en banc), however, have reached the opposite conclusion. Both of these courts have held that when the defendant presents eviden-tiary support for his good-faith defense, the trial court must give a separate instruction to the jury on this issue. See also United States v. McGuire, 744 F. 2d 1197 , 1201 (CA6 1984). Given this square conflict among the Courts of Appeals, I would grant certio-rari in this case.
Cases cited
- 745 F. 2d 1205 745 F. 2d 1205 p. 925
- 662 F. 2d 834 662 F. 2d 834 p. 925
- 658 F. 2d 920 658 F. 2d 920 p. 925
- 456 U. S. 915 456 U. S. 915 p. 925
- 653 F. 2d 334 653 F. 2d 334 p. 925
- 454 U. S. 1034 454 U. S. 1034 p. 925
- 735 F. 2d 823 735 F. 2d 823 p. 925
- 744 F. 2d 716 744 F. 2d 716 p. 925
- 744 F. 2d 1197 744 F. 2d 1197 p. 925