United States v. Washington
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
592 F.2d 680 (1979)

- Written by Darius Dehghan, JD
Facts
Steven Washington (defendant) was charged with violating 18 U.S.C. App. § 1202(a)(1), which prohibited possession of a deadly weapon by a convicted felon. Washington had a prior felony conviction. At the trial before the district court, Washington requested that the judge give a limiting instruction to the jury. Specifically, Washington asked the judge to instruct the jury that the prior felony conviction could establish the convicted-felon element of § 1202(a)(1) but could not establish Washington’s propensity to commit crimes. The judge denied Washington’s request for a limiting instruction. Subsequently, the jury convicted Washington under § 1202(a)(1). Washington appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Per curiam)
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