Legal Opinion
United States v. James Finis Toney, Jr.
Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Decided April 9, 1980No. 78-5433PublishedCited by 43 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
JAMES C. HILL, Circuit Judge:
This case presents the question whether a district court has the discretion under rule 403 of the Federal Rules of Evidence 1 to prohibit the impeachment of a witness with a conviction for a crime involving dishonesty or false statement (a crimen falsi).2 We hold that the court has no such discretion and that a cross-examiner has an absolute right to introduce a crimen falsi conviction for impeachment purposes.3
I
On April 4, 1978, James Finis Toney, Jr. was convicted by a jury of mail fraud, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2, 1341 (1976). Prior to trial, Toney filed a motion in…
2Cases cited12 opinions
- United States v. Sally A. Papia, Russell J. Enea, Joseph v. Basile, and Maximillion J. AdonnisCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · 1977
- United States v. Leroy HayesCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit · 1977
- United States v. Tyrone Smith, United States of America v. Anthony E. GartrellCourt of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit · 1976
- United States v. BrashierCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · 1976
- United States v. James Finis Toney, Jr., and John H. Stewart, Jr.Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · 1979
7 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by43 opinions
- Luce v. United StatesSupreme Court of the United States · 1984
- United States v. James Pedroza, Francisco C. Pelaes, Jose Perez, and Enrique Jesus OsornoCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit · 1984
- United States v. Edward Luce, Robert Kolofer, and James LuigsCourt of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit · 1983
- United States v. Michael A. LipscombCourt of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit · 1983
- Stanley Christmas v. Lolita SandersCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · 1985
38 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.