United States v. Lester Giles Panter

CLARK, Chief Judge:

Lester Giles Panter was convicted by a jury of violating 18 U.S.C.App. § 1202(a)(1), which prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms. 1 At trial Panter stipulated to a prior felony conviction and to the interstate commerce jurisdictional requirement. His only defense was that he possessed the firearm only momentarily and in self-defense. The district court instructed the jury, however, that neither the length of, nor the reason for, Panter’s possession was relevant. Panter contends here that § 1202(a)(1) does not impose absolute liability and that the jury should…