Brief filed: 03/06/2015
Documents
United States v. McDonnell
4th Circuit Court of Appeals; Case No. 15-4019
Prior Decision
On appeal from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Hon. James R. Spencer, case below No. 3:14-CR-12 (E.D. Va. 2014).
Argument(s)
The District Court’s “Official Act” instruction improperly altered the federal-state balance without a clear statement from Congress. Ambiguous criminal provisions must be interpreted strictly against the government.
Author(s)
John D. Cline, Law Office of John D. Cline, San Francisco, CA; David B. Smith, Smith & Zimmerman, PLLC, Alexandria, VA.