State v. O'NEILL

These consolidated interlocutory appeals arise from the Washington District Court’s denial of defendants’ motions to dismiss charges of obstruction of justice under 13 V.S.A. § 3015 (“[w]hoever . . . corruptly. . . obstructs or impedes, or endeavors to obstruct or impede the due administration of justice” commits a crime). Defendants, relying on the interpretation of a federal statute similar to Vermont’s, claim that the existence of a pending judicial proceeding is an element of the crime. The trial court ruled that a pending judicial proceeding is not a required element under Vermont’s…