United States v. John Broers

The defendant, John Broers, was found guilty of selling his services as a hunting guide in a national forest without a permit, in violation of 36 C.F.R. § 261.10(c), a regulation promulgated pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 (1982) (rules protecting national forests). At Broers’ trial before a magistrate, the government was represented by a Special Agent of the United States Forest Service who was not an attorney. Broers argues that prosecution by a non-attorney violated his due process rights because it necessarily implicated the impartiality of the magistrate, who, Broers contends, improperly…