United States v. Edward J.

BRORBY, Circuit Judge.

This appeal of a juvenile delinquency proceeding involves a single evidentiary issue concerning Federal Rule of Evidence 803(4), and the more complicated question of whether the district court erred by receiving closing arguments and issuing its verdict in written form. We exercise our jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. While we examine the constitutional arguments presented, we ultimately affirm the district court because any perceived error was either harmless or invited.

I. BACKGROUND

Edward J. is a juvenile who lived in his family’s compound on the Navajo Reservation…