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United States v. Thomas

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

571 F.2d 285 (1978)

Facts

Rowland Thomas (defendant) and Weeks were charged with bank robbery. Thomas did not assist in planning the robbery, and the details of the robbery were never discussed in front of Thomas. After the preliminary hearing, Weeks said, “They ought to let Rowland Thomas go, he didn’t have anything to do with it.” Thomas and Weeks were tried jointly. At the trial, Thomas introduced Weeks’s statement. The district-court judge ruled that the statement was inadmissible. Weeks did not testify at the trial, relying on the privilege against self-incrimination. Subsequently, the jury convicted Thomas and Weeks. Thomas appealed.

Rule of Law

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Issue

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Holding and Reasoning (Godbold, J.)

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A "yes" or "no" answer to the question framed in the issue section;
A summary of the majority or plurality opinion, using the CREAC method; and
The procedural disposition (e.g., reversed and remanded, affirmed, etc.).

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