United States v. McDonnell
Brief Details
- Case No.: 15-4019
- Brief Filed: January 16, 2015
- Jurisdiction: 4th Circuit Court of Appeals
Key Topics in the Brief
Briefs
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.
