United States v. Tommie Dell Ross and Dorothy Ruth Ross

COLEMAN, Circuit Judge:

On December 20, 1971, the Supreme Court decided Santobello v. New York, 404 U.S. 257, 92 S.Ct. 495, 30 L.Ed.2d 427. It was there held that plea bargaining is an essential component of the administration of justice and, properly administered, is to be encouraged. In Santobello, the bargain for a particular plea was for the purpose of securing the dismissal of more serious charges, including no sentence recommendation by the prosecutor.

The present appeal requires the application of Santobello principles to prose-cutorial presentation of evidence and oral argument to the…