Legal Opinion
United States v. Dennis Burke
Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Decided January 8, 1986No. 85-1289PublishedCited by 66 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
EASTERBROOK, Circuit Judge.
United States v. Donnelly, 179 F.2d 227, 233 (7th Cir.1950), holds that when a defendant introduces evidence of his good character, the jury should be told that “character evidence may in itself be sufficient to create in the minds of the jury a reasonable doubt at to the guilt of the defendant.” Instruction 3.15 of this circuit’s pattern jury instructions incorporates the requirement of Donnelly. Every other court of appeals that has spoken on the question has concluded that such an instruction gives undue weight to character evidence. The district court, agreeing…
2Cases cited56 opinions
- Michelson v. United StatesSupreme Court of the United States · 1949
- Hutto v. DavisSupreme Court of the United States · 1982
- Parker v. RandolphSupreme Court of the United States · 1979
- United States v. MandujanoSupreme Court of the United States · 1976
- United States v. WashingtonSupreme Court of the United States · 1977
51 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by66 opinions
- Mark Waldorf, in No. 97-5195 v. Edward J. Shuta Carolyn Wood Kenneth C. Spence, Jr. Mary Kay Spence Borough of Kenilworth Joseph Rego Henry J. Moll Victor Smith Lawrence Stickle Charles David Joseph Ventre Thomas Neville William J. Ahern William E. Conrad Livio Mancino Gary Rowinsky Mario Dibella Vincent Scorese Harry Grapenthin Mary Kelly Richard McCormack William Holt A. Zeleniak Richard Lomax C. William Gutekunst Frederick Bailey Michael Padula Charles Scheuermann Fred Sues Joseph Walyuf Thomas McHale Philip Ernst Frank J. Mascaro Walter E. Boright, Jr. Albert Simmenroth James E. O'Brien Frank J. Johdof Raymond Blydenburgh Edward Kasbarian John J. O'LOck Edmac Enterprises Edward McDermott Mark Waldorf v. Edward J. Shuta Carolyn Wood Kenneth C. Spence, Jr. Mary Kay Spence Borough of Kenilworth Joseph Rego Henry J. Moll Victor Smith Lawrence Stickle Charles David Joseph Ventre Thomas Neville William J. Ahern William E. Conrad Livio Mancino Gary Rowinsky Mario Dibella Vincent Scorese Harry Grapenthin Mary Kelly Richard McCormack William Holt A. Zeleniak Richard Lomax C. William Gutekunst Frederick Bailey Michael Padula Charles Scheuermann Fred Sues Joseph Walyuf Thomas McHale Philip Ernst Frank J. Mascaro Walter E. Boright, Jr. Albert Simmenroth James E. O'Brien Frank J. Johdof Raymond Blydenburgh Edward Kasbarian John J. O'LOck Edmac Enterprises Edward McDermott Borough of Kenilworth, in No. 97-5222Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit · 1998
- United States v. Thomas S. Ross and John ColloriCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · 1996
- Daniel Makiel v. Kim ButlerCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · 2015
- United States v. Beverly J. Ramsey, Michael J. Marshall, Stuart A. McCreary and James Joseph O'DOnnellCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · 1986
- United States v. Baytank (Houston), Inc., United States of America v. Baytank (Houston), Inc.Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · 1991
61 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.