United States v. Louis Walker

Second Circuit

United States v. Louis Walker

502 F.2d 1214

CourtCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit

DecidedSeptember 18, 1974

Docket1244, Docket 72-1669

StatusPublished

This text of 502 F.2d 1214 (United States v. Louis Walker) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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United States v. Louis Walker, 502 F.2d 1214 (2d Cir. 1974).

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Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Appellant’s sole claim on appeal is that Judge Weinfeld improperly excluded a partial transcript of tape recordings made by Walker of largely self-serving telephone conversations with certain Government agents shortly before trial. Our examination of these transcripts indicates that their probative value at trial was minimal. We agree with Judge Weinfeld’s memorandum opinion filed May 10, 1972, denying appellant’s motion for a new trial, to the effect that the transcripts contained “no matter inconsistent with- the substance of [the agent’s] testimony.” Even if the transcripts did contain statements bearing upon the appellant’s state of mind, as appellant contends, the exclusion of this evidence was certainly no abuse of Judge Weinfeld’s discretion. The transcript does not purport to be complete; appellant had failed in the ample time afforded to him by Judge Weinfeld to make the tapes themselves available to the Government; the appellant offered the transcripts only after both sides had rested. Accordingly, Judge Weinfeld’s exclusionary ruling was clearly within his discretion.

Judgment affirmed.

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PER CURIAM.

Appellant’s sole claim on appeal is that Judge Weinfeld improperly excluded a partial transcript of tape recordings made by Walker of largely self-serving telephone conversations with certain Government agents shortly before trial. Our examination of these transcripts indicates that their probative value at trial was minimal. We agree with Judge Weinfeld’s memorandum opinion filed May 10, 1972, denying appellant’s motion for a new trial, to the effect that the transcripts contained “no matter inconsistent with- the substance of [the agent’s] testimony.” Even if the transcripts did contain statements bearing upon the appellant’s state of mind, as appellant contends, the exclusion of this evidence was certainly no abuse of Judge Weinfeld’s discretion. The transcript does not purport to be complete; appellant had failed in the ample time afforded to him by Judge Weinfeld to make the tapes themselves available to the Government; the appellant offered the transcripts only after both sides had rested. Accordingly, Judge Weinfeld’s exclusionary ruling was clearly within his discretion.

Judgment affirmed.

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502 F.2d 1214, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-louis-walker-ca2-1974.