United States v. Brown

I concur with Judge Gierke’s opinion. In my view, appellant was prevented from putting on a critical part of his defense. See United States v. Rankins, 34 MJ 326, 331 (CMA 1992) (Sullivan, C.J., dissenting). Testimony that he was a religious, law-abiding man who abstained from using drugs and alcohol is relevant character evidence. Cf United States v. Thomas, 40 MJ 252 (CMA 1994).