[1] Court must honor Defendant's First Amendment rights, and abide by strict definitions of terms used in the indictment.

A survey of cases prosecuted on 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1503 reveals that the identical sorts of "corrupt endeavor" required to constitute an offense under the omnibus clause of Sec. 1503 discussed, supra, is also required for an attempt to influence a juror. Prior to the enactment of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1512 in 1982, the statute also applied to non-coercive influencing of witnesses. See, U.S. v. Lester, U.S. v. Aguilar, supra.

No allegation of coercive influencing has been made in this case. The cases involving non-coercive attempts have always included either 1) bribery of a juror or witness; or 2) communications specific to the proceeding that the defendant sought to influence. United States v. Kahn, 366 F.2d 259 (C.A.N.Y. 1966), cert.den., 87 S.Ct. 321, 324 (3 cases); reh. den., 87 S.Ct. 502, 503 (2 cases), the Defendant was convicted of attempted bribery of a witness. Cash payments to a juror were also the issue in deciding what influence such pamphlets might have on any award. United States v. Osticco, 563 F.Supp. 727 (D.C. Penn, 1983). Other cases involved telephone communications regarding the specific case, United States v. Ogle, 613 F.2d 233; United States v. Haas, 583 F.2d 216 (5th Cir. 1978).

The pamphleteering at issue here is more similar to that at issue in Hoffman v. Perruci, 117 F.Supp. 38 (E.D.Penn. 1953), a case in which civil plaintiffs were denied injunctive relief against liability insurers who published advertisements and pamphlets alleging that excessive jury awards were raising insurance rates and thereby escalating living costs:

"We feel that the out-of-court publication of these advertisements and the distribution of the pamphlet do not interfere with the ordinary administration of justice in the action before the court. There is not present that extremely high degree of imminence of the substantive evil which would justify punishment of the publications."

Id., at 40, citing, Bridges v. States of California, 314 U.S. 252, 263 (1941). In Hoffman, the court suggested that plaintiffs have an opportunity to question prospective jurors concerning the possible effect such advertisements and pamphlet may have on any award. The same remedy might have been employed here.

Jury nullification, the subject of the pamphlets, itself has never been held unlawful. It is a concept that allows the jury to acquit the defendant even when the government has proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. U.S. v. Powell, 955 F.2d at 1212. In Sparf v. U.S., 156 U.S. 51 (1895) the Supreme Court ruled that while the jurors had the right to decide both law and fact, the court was not required to inform them of this right.

Ogle, supra, involved a pamphlet similar to that at issue here, but is inapposite because of additional facts not found here. The overt act at issue was instructing an accomplice, who worked with a particular juror as a stewardess, to call her and offer her a pamphlet written by the defendant (whom both the juror and accomplice knew) which discussed both jury nullification and the unconstitutionality of the income tax. The case at issue was a tax case. In this case, no confrontations with jurors have been alleged, either by phone or in person, and nothing in the pamphlets pertained to the case in progress.

The issue of jury nullification was most recently addressed in U.S. v. Datcher 830 F.Supp. 411:

"This respect for nullification flows from the role of the jury as the 'conscience of the community' in our criminal justice system.
... "Argument equating jury nullification with anarchy misses the point that in our criminal justice system the law as stated by a judge is secondary to the justice as meted out by a jury of defendant's peers. We have established the jury as the final arbiter of truth and justice in our criminal justice system; this court must grant the defendant's motion if the jury is to fulfill this duty."

While jurors are not informed of their right to nullify oppressive laws, and some federal courts question whether jurors have the right to nullify, compare, U.S. v. Wilson [cite], U.S. v. Datcher, 830 F.Supp. 411 (M.D.Tenn 1993) and United States v. Ogle, 613 F.2d 233 (curtailment of questioning on defendant's views on jury nullification upheld because they were "entirely contrary to law"), no jurisdiction permits a directed verdict of guilt, no matter how overwhelming the evidence. United Brotherhood of Carpenters, etc. v. United States, 1947, 330 U.S. 395, 408, 67 S.Ct. 775, 91 L.Ed. 273; Edwards v. United States, 286 F.2d 681 (5th Cir. 1960); United States v. Spock, 416 F.2d 165 (1st Cir., 1969). In Spock, conviction for conspiracy to counsel, aid and abet draft resisters was overturned because a special question was submitted to the jury along with the general issue. Citing Morris v. United States, 156 F.2d 525, 1946, the 1st Circuit stated:

"Uppermost of these considerations is the principle that the jury, as the conscience of the community, must be permitted to look at more than logic. Indeed, this is the principle upon which we began our discussion. If it were otherwise there would be no more reason why a verdict should not be directed against a defendant in a criminal case than in a civil one. The consitutional guarantees of due process and trial by jury require that a criminal defendant be afforded the full protection of a jury unfettered, directly or indirectly."

U.S. v. Spock, 416 F.2d at 182. The purpose of the jury is to prevent the oppression by the government. Duncan v. Louisiana, 391 U.S. 145, 155 (1968). Since the jury was not being instructed to break the law, the defendant's speech cannot be viewed as encouraging the commission of a crime. U.S. v. Spock, 416 F.2d at 170-171, citing, Scales v. United States, 81 S.Ct. 1469 (1961).

The sidewalks around a courthouse are public fora, and distribution of pamphlets there is clearly protected by the First Amendment. United States v. Grace, 103 S.Ct. 1702 (1983). This restriction is content-based and unconstitutional. Where a statute might infringe on the right to free speech, it must be construed so as to avoid unconstitutionality. It is for this reason that specific illegal intent be proved. Scales v. U.S., supra.

The specific intent required to sustain an indictment for jury tampering, like obstruction of justice discussed supra, can usually be demonstrated where, as traditionally, more is involved than the mere distribution of pamphlets. The offense charged must be similar to those specified in the statute, applying the doctrine of ejusdem generis. United States v. Essex, 407 F.2d 214 (6th Cir. 1969), quoted in, United States v. Ryan, 455 F.2d 728, 733 (9th Cir. 1972), U.S. v. Aguilar, 21 F.2d 1486, FN 9.

Jurors have the right and power to determine guilt or innocence according to their conscience. Informing them of that right cannot be equated with urging a violation of law. But even where pamphlets at issue advocated a clear violation of law, such as draft avoidance, courts are reluctant to find that the mere urging of others to violate the law comprises a Sec. 371 conspiracy.

Hammerschmidt v. United States, 265 U.S. 182, 188-189, 44 S.Ct. 511 (1924), was charged as a "defraud clause" conspiracy, but could easily have been charged as on "offense clause". The facts are similar to those at issue here. The defendants had been charged with impeding the functions of the draft board by distributing handbills and flyers advocating non-compliance with the draft laws. In dismissing the indictment charging such a conspiracy, the Supreme Court held:

"To conspire to defraud the United States means primarily to cheat the government out of property or money, but it also means to interfere with or obstruct one of its lawful governmental functions by deceit, craft, trickery, or at least by means that are dishonest. It is not necessary that the government shall be subjected to property or pecuniary loss by the fraud, but only that its legitimate official action and purpose shall be defeated by misrepresentation, chicane, or the overreaching of those charged with carrying out the governmental intention. It is true that the words 'to defraud' as used in some statutes have been given a wide meaning, wider than their ordinary scope...Its construction in the Horman case cannot be used as authority to include within the legal definition of a conspiracy to defraud the United States a mere open defiance of the governmental purpose to enforce a law by urging persons subject to it to disobey it." (Emphasis added)

In this case, Hammerschmidt was engaged in an obvious exercise of rights protected by the First Amendment, and the Court held that such conduct was not subject to criminal proceedings under a theory that it defrauded the government. The Court also plainly noted that strenuously advising others to violate the law simply is not defrauding the government or obstructing its functions. See also United States v. Spock, 416 F.2d 165 (1st Cir., 1969).

[2]Intent is an essential element to be proven at trial

Defendant has not been charged with "corruptly" causing pamphlets to be placed on car windshields, she has been charged with corruptly attempting to obstruct justice. Specific intent to impede the administration of justice is an essential element of the offense. Pettibone v. United States, 13 S.Ct. 542 (1893). The interpretation of the word "corruptly," has undergone several changes over past decades. Traditionally, a more culpable mens rea was required to show "corruptness" than is needed today.

"The word 'corrupt' in the statute means for an evil or wicked purpose. Specific intent to impede the administration of justice is an essential element of the offense. Pettibone v. United States, 148 U.S. 197, 13 S.Ct. 542, 37 L.Ed. 419 (1893)."

U.S. v. Ryan, 455 F.2d at 733. For several years, "corruptly" was interpreted to mean no more than with the purpose of obstructing justice. The word "corrupt" was then used interchangeably with "willful." One year ago, the 9th Circuit returned to a stricter construction of the term "corruptly" within the omnibus clause of Sec. 1503, with which this defendant is charged. In United States v. Aguilar, 21 F.3d 1475 (9th Cir. 1994), the court held that the making of false statements to a witness was clearly beyond the reach of this statute, and to hold otherwise would expand the statute far beyond its reasonable construction:

"If a person sought to influence the testimony of a witness by bribery or extortion, this would clearly fall within the normally accepted meaning of corrupt. Simply making a false statement to a potential witness is a far cry from any generally accepted meaning of 'corruptly influence' or 'corrupt persuasion.'"

If Aguilar is followed, the indictment should be dismissed, as there has been no allegation of bribery or extortion, nor of any coercion whatsoever. In the alternative, even under the "willfulness" standard, the Defendant has an absolute right to present evidence that will disprove an assertion that she acted willfully. In doing so, it is unavoidable that Defendant must present evidence concerning jury nullification to describe her innocent and honorable state of mind. She held and maintains a sincere and reasonable belief that the jury could, if it wished, decide a case according to conscience, and that the result would be justice, and not a miscarriage of justice. Regas further believed that the jury had a right to information on nullification outside court, and that she had a right, under the First Amendment, to broadcast the information. Furthermore, she did not believe that the pamphlets would create a criminal influence over any juror, since the broadcasted material was anonymous, general, and conditional and suggested no particular verdict. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1503 and 2. She did not know that she had a duty to refrain from pamphleteering in this way.

"Willfulness" has been a well-studied term within the context of criminal tax cases, and is defined as a "voluntary, intentional violation of a known legal duty."

"'Evil motive' is merely a 'convenient shorthand expression to distinguish liability based on conscious wrongdoing from liability based on mere carelessness or mistake' [citations omitted]. Thus, the government may prove willful conduct by establishing either: (1) that the defendant acted with a bad purpose or evil motive or (2) that the defendant voluntarily, intentionally violated a known legal duty."

Powell, at 1210-11, citing Cheek, 111 S.Ct at 610-611; Richey v. U.S.I.R.S., 9 F.3d 1407, 1412 (9th Cir. 1993). The right to present evidence of intent or willfulness is well-settled law, and even the government concedes in its motion that Defendant's intent will be an issue. Because of the subtle distinctions between lawful and unlawful conduct, evidence of intent is particularly important when obstruction of justice is charged.

However, while acknowledging that intent is at issue, the government's motion improperly attempts to limit the scope and nature of that essential evidence. This case, where no other person has been brought to trial under these statutes for the distribution of anonymous, general information on jury nullification, is one of first impression. A plethora of case law exists concerning the intent of willfulness in tax cases, which can be analogized to U.S. v. Regas.

The government's Motion in Limine misstates the reasoning of Powell, at 1213. That case did not state that the jury was sworn to follow the court's instructions, but that "while jury nullification is a fact" the defense was not entitled to a nullification instruction:

"Our circuit's precedent indicates that the Powells are not entitled to jury nullification instructions. United States v. Simpson, 460 F.2d 515, 519 (9th Cir. 1972). Therefore, the district court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to give the proposed instruction."

Id., at 1213. Mrs. Regas does not seek a nullification instruction.

Mrs. Regas does rely on Powell for other reasons -- to oppose the government's request that legal evidence negating willfulness be excluded. The Powells asserted that the district court erred in prohibiting them from introducing statutes and case law into evidence that supported the sincerity of their beliefs. The Court stated:

"The Supreme court in Cheek held that '[it is not contrary to common sense, let alone impossible, for a defendant to be ignorant of his duty based on an irrational belief that he has no duty, and] forbidding the jury to consider evidence that might negate willfulness would raise a serious question under the Sixth Amendment's jury trial provision.' Cheek, 111 S.Ct. at 611 [1991]. Although a district court may exclude evidence of what the law is or should be, see United States v. Poshcwatta, 829 F.2d 1477, 1482 (9th Cir. 1987), cert. denied, 108 S.Ct. 1024 (1988), it ordinarily cannot exclude evidence relevant to the jury's determination of what a defendant thought the law was in Sec. 7203 cases because willfulness is an element of the offense. In Sec. 7203 prosecutions, statutes or case law upon which the defendant claims to have actually relied are admissible to disprove that element if the defendant lays a proper foundation which demonstrates such reliance."

Powell, at 1214 (emphasis supplied). The proposition that a defendant charged with a willful violation is entitled to admit into evidence the legal materials and other documents upon which he relied is well settled since the Cheek decision. United States v. Gaumer, 972 F.2d 723, 724 (6th Cir. 1992).

The application of Cheek has yet to be considered in a non-tax case in the 9th Circuit where willfulness is an element of the charged offense. For instance, it does not apply to a statute, such as 26 U.S.C. Sec. 5861(d) which does not contain a mens rea requirement. U.S. v. O'Mara, 963 F.2d 1288, 1293; (9th Cir. 1992) (concurring opinion). However, the District Court of Oregon, relying on Cheek, 111 S.Ct. 604, determined that because willfulness is a requirement of 18 U.S.C. 923(g)(1)(B), and the evidence must show knowledge:

"The subjective belief of Benjamin, even if unreasonable, determines the issue of willfulness. Cheek v. U.S., 111. S.Ct. 604. A good faith misunderstanding of the law or a good faith belief that one is not violating the law negates the element of willfulness, whether or not the claimed belief or misunderstanding is objectively reasonable."

Benjamin v. B.A.T.F., 771 F.Supp. 307, 311 (D.Or. 1991). In U.S. v. Pitner, 979 F.2d 156 (9th Cir. 1992) the court refused to apply Cheek to currency transaction structuring laws, but that interpretation has since been overturned. U.S. v. Ratzlaf, 114 S.Ct. 665 (1994). For a mail or property fraud case, reckless indifference will support a conviction, and Cheek, which interpreted sections 7201 and 7203 of the Internal Revenue Code, which expressly conditions a defendant's guilt on a finding that she or he acted "willfully," does not purport to speak to the mens rea requirement of other federal statues where willfulness is not an element of the crime. The requirement that a reliance on governmental authority be reasonable as well as sincere to assert a "public authority" defense has not changed since the Cheek decision. U.S. v. Burrows, 36 F.3d 875 (9th Cir. 1994) (drug offense).

The determining factor in whether Cheek applies is whether willfulness is an element of the crime. Where the proffered evidence did not negate willfulness, Cheek was not applied even in a tax case. U.S. v. Hardy, 941 F.2d 893 (9th 1991) (An evidentiary ruling of the court that excluded testimony that his mother had told him of a man who had failed to file his taxes for 12 years and suffered no consequences, because it would not have bolstered Hardy's good faith defens,e was not an abuse of discretion.) The Defendants in U.S. v. Lorenzo, 995 F.2d 1448 (9th Cir. 1993) were charged for a redemption scheme involving fraudulent tax forms, with inter alia, 18 U.S.C Sec. 371, 1001, and 1503. They requested a good faith instruction for Sec. 371 (conspiracy) and e 1001 (filing false IRS forms) but not for Sec. 1503, the offense for which Regas is charged. In refusing to reverse their conviction, the Circuit noted that "the traditional definition of willfulness relied on by the Supreme court in Cheek, turns entirely on the 'special treatment of criminal tax offenses...due to the complexity of the tax laws.'" U.S. v. Lorenzo, 995 F.2d at 1455, citing Cheek, 111. S.Ct. at 609.

The Cheek analysis has been applied to obstruction of justice in a criminal tax case, 26 U.S.C. e 7212(a). The language in that statute is nearly identical to that of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1503:

"Appellant next contends that the government's evidence of "willfulness" with respect to his conviction under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 7206(1) (filing false tax documents) and its evidence of "corruptness" with respect to his conviction under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 7212(a) (endeavoring to obstruct the administration of the internal revenue laws) was insufficient to support guilty verdicts. Statutory willfulness, in the context of criminal tax prosecutions, means a voluntary, intentional violation of a known legal duty. Cheek [v. U.S.], supra, 498 U.S. at 200, 111 S.Ct. at 610. Appellant ignores the overwhelming evidence that he acted willfully and corruptly. There is no evidence to dispute the finding that appellant acted voluntarily and intentionally in filing the false tax return and tax forms. He voluntarily made the decision to purchase and use Roger Elvick's "redemption program," and he admitted that he did not pay any of the purported recipients any of the amounts reflected on the 1099 Forms. Because he knew he never paid the individuals, he could not have believed that the forms, which he signed under penalties of perjury, were in fact true and correct. The evidence also established that appellant acted corruptly in pursuing the retaliation scheme, in violation of 26 U.S.C. Sec. 7212(a). This court has defined "corruptly," in part, as "an effort to 'secure an unlawful advantage or benefit,' and, in particular, to secure a financial gain." United States v. Yagow, 953 F.2d 423, 427 (8th Cir.1992).

U.S. v. Dykstra, 991 F.2d 450, 453 (8th Cir. 1994), cert. denied, 114 S.Ct. 222, (1993). The Dykstra court went on to note, in considering sentencing:

"As this court noted in United States v. Williams, 644 F.2d 696, 699 n. 11 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 841, 102 S.Ct. 150, 70 L.Ed.2d 124 (1981), '[t]he language and structure of Sec. 7212 track part of certain federal obstruction of justice statutes, specifically 18 U.S.C. Sections 1503 and 1505 (1976).' In interpreting Sec. 7212(a), courts have often resorted to the obstruction of justice provision of Title 18. See, e.g., United States v. Mitchell, 985 F.2d 1275, 1278 (4th Cir.1993); United States v. Popkin, supra, 943 F.2d 1535, 1539-40 (11th Cir.1991); United States v. Reeves, 752 F.2d 995, 998-1001 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 834, 106 S.Ct. 107, 88 L.Ed.2d 87 (1985). Similar to 26 U.S.C. Sec. 7212(a), a person is guilty of an offense under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1503 if he, inter alia, "corruptly, or by threats or force ... influences, obstructs, or impedes, or endeavors to influence, obstruct, or impede, the due administration of justice."

Dykstra, at 454. The statutes have since been similarly analogized by the 9th Circuit:

"Relying on United States v. Dykstra, 991 F.2d 450 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 114 S.Ct. 222 (1993), the district court found Sec. 2J1.2, Obstruction of Justice, with a base offense level of 12, to be most analogous. [U.S. v.] Hanson, 2 F.3d 942, 947 (9th Cir.1993), a Ninth Circuit case decided several weeks before the Koffs were sentenced, found instead that Sec. 2T1.5, Fraudulent Returns, Statements, or Other Documents, with a base offense level of 6, was the most analogous guideline in another s 7212(a) case. After receiving briefs on this question, we now conclude that the district court properly applied Sec. 2J1.2."

U.S. v. Koff, 43 F.3d, 417, 419 (9th Cir. 1994).

This case is one of first impression, both in regards to whether distributing FIJA pamphlets is unlawful, and in whether Cheek should apply to 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1503 offenses. Its application in 26 U.S.C. Sec. 7212 cases supports Regas' position that it should. Further, Regas is not, at this point, requesting a "Cheek" jury instruction, but merely the ability to present documentary and testimonial evidence of how she formed her good faith belief that her actions were proper pursuant to Cheek. The law regarding jury nullification and the right to inform the public (including jurors) of that prerogative is, like tax law, complex. It involves an interplay between First and Sixth Amendments, the jurors oath, and whether moral and religious considerations should override that oath.

To disprove willfulness -- the intentional violation of a known legal duty -- Defendant has a right to show that she did not know that she had a duty to refrain from pamphleteering as alleged. Cheek, at 604; U.S. v. Ratzlaf, at 665.

The evidence that is essential to negate the element of "corrupt endeavor" or "willfulness" consists of the following:
1) The pamphlet, "True or False?", which was distributed; 2) the Jury Power Information Kit and the FIJActivist (Summer, 1993); 3) Testimony of persons who spoke with Regas about the pamphlets, and authors of articles upon which she relied upon to form her belief that distribution was lawful; 3) Expert testimony of Alan Scheflin, LL.M., M.A.

[3]The Pamphlets Distributed on June 2, 1994 are Exculpatory.

The pamphlet itself is a key ingredient of Mrs. Regas' defense that she did not, corruptly or willfully, endeavor to obstruct justice or influence a juror or jurors. The pamphlets themselves must be presented to the jury for determination of whether they can be characterized as a corrupt endeavor to influence a juror or juror. For the jury to be able to determine that issue, they must view the pamphlet so that they might assess its message for themselves, not merely from the stance of a juror who was to receive it, but from the stance of a person who would distribute it. They would then observe, inter alia, quotes from the founding fathers, truthful information about the criminal justice system, and no information regarding any specific case or the suggestion of any particular verdict. The jury might find the pamphlet less influential than, for instance, a demonstration at a highly publicized trial or a news article about jury nullification, which are legal expressions.

Regas does not dispute that information concerning jury nullification is traditionally not presented to the jury in court (in fact, this reality forms an essential ingredient to her defense). This suppression is usually limited to the suppression of instructions. Witness statements concerning jury nullification have been presented for other purposes. The government, for example, has introduced nullification endorsements as impeachment evidence in U.S. v. Benson,. 941 F.2d 598, 609-10 (7th Cir. 1991).

In this case, information concerning jury nullification is necessary to negate intent. The exclusion of evidence on jury nullification would require, for the case to proceed, an instruction from the court that Defendant's behavior constituted two essential elements of the crime: 1) whether the literature in question proves that the Defendant attempted to influence a juror or jurors; and 2) that the pamphlets prove that the defendant acted with an intent to obstruct justice and/or influence a juror or jurors. The prosecution, by this motion, is in effect asking the Court for permission to say: "The Defendant has handed out illegal pamphlets -- pamphlets that you can't see, but take our word for it, they're illegal." To allow this is tantamount to an instruction that the most important element of the crime charged has already been judicially determined to be present. In this case, if the Defendant attempts to offer any evidence concerning any or all of the elements which must be proven herein to convict her, that evidence not only should be admitted, but this Court cannot legally exclude such proof. To do so would be to direct a verdict as to the contested element.

The pamphlets may be considered by a jury to be no more of an attempt to affect the outcome of U.S. v. Regas than a dry-cleaning coupon or a political advertisement for a candidate whose agenda includes "getting tough on crime". Whether or not the Court agrees with the majority of jurisdictions in the country that deem jury nullification (trial) instructions impermissible is not the issue here. The issue is whether the information and opinions contained in these pamphlets, which were distributed anonymously outside the courtroom, constitute an attempt to obstruct justice via jury tampering. That issue is factual, and properly forwarded for the jury's consideration in accordance with the Sixth Amendment.

As discussed in other pleadings, these pamphlets contained generalized, non-coercive language, and contained no references to any specific case. The language, therefore, is important exculpatory evidence. Furthermore, the language of the pamphlets that would constitute an attempt to incite a juror to action was composed in the conditional: "it is your responsibility to 'hang' the jury with your vote if you disagree with the other jurors," "[Jurors] should never have to explain 'I wanted to use my conscience, but the judge made us take an oath to apply the law as given to us, like it or not." The conditional language is therefore exculpatory, and must be considered by the jury. It is possible that the jury may feel the conditional nature of the language raises a reasonable doubt as to whether there was an attempt to influence a juror's actions as jurors. It may well be that since the language was generalized and conditional -- that the decision of which cases were appropriate candidates for nullification was left to the jury -- that the pamphlets should be properly regarded as a (legal) political attempt to educate the jury about the criminal justice system as a whole.

Secondly, the pamphlets state that jury nullification itself is legal in the entire country, as are jury nullification instructions in a minority of jurisdictions. This is a correct statement of law, and as such it is an important exculpatory fact.

"To ask the jury special questions might be said to infringe on its power to deliberate free from legal fetters; on its power to arrive at a general verdict without having to support it by reasons or by a report of its deliberations; and on its power to follow or not to follow the instructions of the court. Moreover, any abridgement or modification of this institution would partly restrict its historic function, that of tempering rules of law by common sense brought to bear upon the facts of a specific case."

United States v. Spock, 416 F.2d 165, 181 (1st Cir. 1969); Sparf v. United States, 156 U.S. 343, at 72 (1894), etc., in Defendant's Response to Motion in Limine to Exclude Expert Testimony. A jury may find that the dissemination of generalized truthful information concerning the legal system and how it works can not be considered an attempt to corruptly influence a jury (that such information is protected expression).

The Defendant also has a right to testify before the jury as to why she arranged for the pamphlets to be broadcast, and that can only be done if the pamphlets are entered into evidence. The statements in the pamphlets were adopted by the Defendant, and form the corpus delecti of the crime. A variety of cases hold it to be error to exclude relevant testimony from the Defendant or offered on his behalf.

These are factual issues which are required to be resolved by the jury, not the court. The Court may not direct a verdict as to any element of the case. Exclusion of this evidence would constitute an impermissible violation of Defendant's Sixth Amendment Rights.

[4] FIJA Publications Should be Admitted to Negate Corrupt Intent.

The informational tabloids send to Regas by FIJA should be admissable as evidence of Defendant's character and of evidence of Defendant's state of mind. These newspapers, which Defendant read and relied upon, encourage pamphleteering. They reassure potential distributors that courthouse pamphleteering is a legal, appropriate means of political activity and that many, many people are doing it. They provide a rationale for the dissemination of information regarding the power of jury nullification (civil libertarianism) that was adopted by Defendant. That rationale has nothing to do with obstructing justice via jury tampering, and in fact, the organization has at its purported goal the furtherance of justice, through education.

Also, Defendant should be able to show that her political affiliations would prevent her from attempting to obstruct justice. She should be able to show that she had a deep respect for rugged individualism, that she was patriotic and would therefore not attempt to corruptly influence a judicial proceeding by telling a juror how to vote. This is important character evidence. In United States v. Geise, 597 F.2d 1170 (9th Cir., 1979), the defendant was permitted to summarize and read from eighteen books, which he introduced into evidence as character evidence of his strong belief in pacifism. The Court held:

"Because character testimony alone may be enough to raise a reasonable doubt, defendant's traditionally have been afforded considerable latitude when they testify as to their personal histories." Id., at 1190.

In sum, the FIJA newspapers evidence the following exculpatory information: 1) That Defendant had a deep respect for the American legal system, which negates an allegation that her motives and intent was to obstruct justice; 2) That Defendant's involvement with FIJA evidences that her motives were political -- that she sought to educate potential jurors through acceptable, political means, and not through improper means; 3) That Defendant reasonably believed her actions to be legal, acceptable and honorable, which negates the conspiracy charge as well as the obstruction and jury tampering charges.

[5] Testimonial Evidence of Activists and Authors Should be Allowed.

Mrs. Regas attended a several meetings and political functions during the summer of 1993, which led to her ordering the pamphlets. During that time, she engaged in discussions with several political activists who will testify as to what they told her. This includes a FIJA official who sent the pamphlets to her. His testimony is essential to corroborate her honorable intent at the time she ordered the pamphlets.

The jury may find that Defendant's beliefs, though sincere, were unreasonable, but that does not support a finding of corruption or willfulness. The Supreme Court has recognized that the more unreasonable the asserted beliefs of the defendant are, the more likely the jury will consider them to be no more than a simple disagreement with the law:

"It is thus highly probative for the defense to show that the defendant's belief--whether or not mistaken--was reasonable; evidence of a belief's reasonableness tends to negate a finding of willfulness and to support a finding that the defendant's belief was held in food faith."

U.S. v. Lankford, 955 F.2d 1545, 1550 (11th Cir. 1992), quoting, Cheeks at 611-12. The activists with whom Regas spoke can tell the jury what they told her, and allow the jury to determine whether her resultant actions were performed corruptly. The authors of some of the articles upon which she relied can tell the jury of the research, study, and factual transactions that supported those articles, so that the jury can assess whether Regas' reliance on that information was reasonable or at least credible.

[6] Conclusion

To defend herself, Regas must be given the full opportunity to explain to the jury that she lacked the requisite knowledge to commit this crime. To accomplish such, she has both the right to fully testify, and further she may offer into evidence relevant items to prove her lack of corrupt intent as to the pamphleteering. The right to testify in one's own behalf and to call witnesses is an essential part of due process; see Chambers v. Mississippi, 410 U.S. 284, 294, 93 S.Ct. 1038, 1045 (1973). It has often been held as reversible error to limit exculpatory testimony and evidence. Evidence requires reversal if there is reasonable probability that the suppressed or false evidence affected the verdict.

For the reasons expressed above, Regas should be permitted to fully and completely testify herein and offer documentary and testimonial evidence in support of her belief that the jury has the right to decide a case according to the conscience of its members, and that she had a right to inform them of that prerogative. The court should allow conflicting evidence on all elements of proof in this case.

Mrs. Regas further requests that the government be precluded from alleging or implying in any way that Mrs. Regas does not accept responsibility for the occurrence, or that she seeks a nullification verdict in her own case.

NOTES

1. See Georgia Const. 2-108; Indiana Const. arts.1,8,19; Maryland Const. art. 27, Sec. 593.

2. U.S. v. Datcher, 830 F.Supp. 411 (M.D.Tenn. 1993) discusses the background and some positive aspects of jury nullification as follows: "This respect for nullification flows from the role of the jury as the 'conscience of the community' in our criminal justice system. Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 519 & n. 15, 88 S.Ct. 1770, 1775 & n. 15, 20 L.Ed.2d 776 (1968). As Justice White wrote in Williams v. Florida, 399 U.S. 78, 90 S.Ct. 1983, 26 L.Ed.2d 446 (1970) (considering whether a criminal jury must have twelve members), 'the essential feature of a jury obviously lies in the interposition between the accused and his accuser of the common-sense judgment of a group of laymen, and in the community participation and shared responsibility that results from that group's determination of guilt or innocence.' Id. at 100, 90 S.Ct. at 1905. This interposition serves the essential purpose that is to be used in determining the constitutional requirements of a jury trial. Id. at 99-100, 90 S.Ct. at 1905 ('The relevant inquiry [in determining the constitutionality of factors affecting jury deliberations], as we see it, must be the function that the particular feature [of the jury feature] performs and its relation to the purposes of the jury trial.')
   
   

   "When measured by this standard, a defendant's right to inform the jury of that information essential 'to prevent oppression by the government' is clearly of constitutional magnitude. That is, if community oversight of a criminal prosecution is the primary purpose of a jury trial, then to deny a jury information necessary to such oversight is to deny a defendant full protection to be afforded by jury trial. Indeed, to deny a defendant the possibility of jury nullification would be to defeat the central purpose of the jury system.
   
   "Argument against allowing the jury to hear information that might lead to nullification evinces a fear that the jury might actually serve its primary purpose, that is, it evinces a fear that the community might in fact think a law unjust. The government, whose duty it is to seek justice and not merely conviction, Berger v. United States, 295 U.S. 78, 88, 55 S.Ct. 629, 633, 79 L.Ed. 1314 (1935), should not shy away from having a jury know of the full facts and law of a case. Argument equating jury nullification with anarchy misses the point that in our criminal justice system the law as stated by a judge is secondary to the justice as meted out by a jury of defendant's peers. We have established the jury as the final arbiter of truth and justice in our criminal justice system; this court must grant the defendant's motion if the jury is to fulfill this duty."

3. See, Constitution of the United States, Art. 3, Sec.3, which provides "the trial of all crimes except in cases of impeachment, shall be by jury..."; United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America v. United States, 330 U.S. 395, 408 (1946): "...a judge may not direct a verdict of guilty no matter how conclusive the evidence"; and United States v. Martin Linen Supply Co., 430 U.S. 564, 572-3 (1977): "[The jury's] overriding responsibility is to stand between the accused and a potential arbitrary or abusive Government that is in command of the criminal sanction. For this reason, a trial judge is prohibited from entering a judgment of conviction or directing a jury to come forward with such a verdict, regardless of how overwhelming the evidence may point in that direction." (Citations omitted.)
   
   

4. For example, see, United States v. Sae-Chua, 725 F.2d 530 (9th Cir. 1984) where the Court held that by instructing the jury to reconsider its verdict when the judge was aware that only one juror had voted to acquit (and that juror knew that the judge was aware that that juror was alone in his decision to acquit) was overly coercive and constituted reversible error.
   
   

5. See, United States v. Spock, 416 F.2d 165 (1st Cir. 1969) which held that special verdicts "infringe on its [the jury's] power to deliberate free from legal fetters; on its power to arrive at a general verdict without having to support it by reasons or by report of its deliberations; and on its power to follow or not to follow the instructions of the court." See also, United States v. Wilson, 629 F.2d 439, 443 (6th Cir. 1980) which held: "[i]n criminal cases, a jury is entitled to acquit the defendant because it has no sympathy for the government's position. It has a general veto power, and this power should not be attenuated by requiring the jury to answer in writing a detailed list of questions or explain its reasons."
   
   

6. See, Sparf v. United States, 156 U.S. 51 (1895) where Justice Gray, with whom Justice Shiras concurred, dissented from the majority's decision to let stand a conviction where the judge instructed the jury that they could not acquit on the charged offense and convict on a lesser charge not presented. The dissenting justices reasoned that the judge overstepped his authority in passing upon the evidence, and infringed upon the rights of the jury to decide the law, as well as the facts of the case, and provided a compelling argument for the legitimacy of jury nullification:
   

   "It is our deep and settled conviction, confirmed by a re-examination of the authorities under the responsibility of taking part in the consideration and decision of the capital case now before the court, that the jury, upon the general issues of guilty or not guilty in a criminal case, have the right, as well as the power, to decide, according to their own judgment and consciences, all questions of law and fact, involved in that issue."

   
   
   The question of the right of the jury to decide the law in criminal cases has been the subject of repeated controversy in England and America, and eminent jurists have differed in their conclusions on the subject.
   
   

   * * *

   The jury to whom the case is submitted, upon the general issue of guilty or not guilty, are entrusted with the decision of the law and the facts involved in that issue. To assist them in the decision of the facts, they hear the testimony of witnesses; but they are no bound to believe the testimony. To assist them in the decision of the law, they receive the instruction of the judge; but they are not obliged to follow his instructions.
   
   

   * * *

   The duty of the jury, indeed, like any other duty imposed upon any officer or private person by the law of his country, must be governed by the law, and not by willingness or caprice. The jury must ascertain the law as well as they can. Usually they will, and safely they may, take it from the instructions of the court. But if they are satisfied on their consciences that the law is other than as laid down to them by the court, it is their right and their duty to decide by the law as they know or believe it to be.
   
   

   * * *

   It has sometimes, however, been asserted that, although they have the power, they have no right to do this, and that it is their legal, or at least their moral duty, in every criminal case, to obey and follow the judge's instructions in matter of law. The suggestion is not that the jury ought not to exercise the power wrongfully, but that, whether the instructions of the court be right or wrong, just or arbitrary, according to the law as known of all men, or directly contrary to it, the jury must be controlled by and follow them.
   
   But a legal duty which cannot in any way, directly or indirectly, be enforced, and a legal power, of which there can never, under any circumstances, be a rightful and lawful exercise, are anomalies. (Emphasis supplied)
   
   

   * * *

   [I]t is a matter of common observation, that judges and lawyers, even the most upright, able and learned, are sometimes too influenced by technical rules; and that those judges who are wholly or chiefly occupied in the administration of criminal justice are apt, not only to grow severe in their sentences, but to decide questions of law too unfavorably to the accused.
   
   The jury having the undoubted and uncontrollable power to determine for themselves the law as well as the fact by a general verdict of acquittal, a denial by the court of their right to exercise this power will be apt to excite in them a spirit of jealousy and contradiction, and prevent them from giving due consideration and weight to the instructions of the court in matter of law."
   
   

7. See generally, United States v. Dougherty, supra.; Miller v. State, 391 S.E.2d 642 (Ga.1990); Howe, Juries as Judges of Criminal Law, 52 Harv.L.Rev. 582 (1939); R.Pound, Law in Books and Law in Action, 44 Am.L.Rev. 12,18 (1910); Simpson, Jury Nullification in the American System: A Skeptical View, 64 Tex.L.Rev. 488 (1976); Scheflin, Jury Nullification: The Right to Say "No", 45 S.Cal.L.Rev. 168 (1972); M. Kadish and S. Kadish, Discretion to Disobey, (1973).
   
   

8. Two thousand persons protested in Cox necessitating police involvement, and the use of tear gas.

9. Gentile, infra. addressed the sensitivities a court should have concerning the proximity of speech to the topic as follows:
   

   "As we said in Bridges v. California, 314 US 252 (1941), limits upon public comment about pending cases are 'likely to fall not only at a crucial time but upon the most important topics of discussion...' No suggestion can be found in the Constitution that the freedom there guaranteed for speech and the press bears an inverse ratio to the timeliness and importance of the ideas seeking to be expression." Id., at 268-269.

   
   
   In Sheppard v. Maxwell, 384 U.S. 333 (1966) we are reminded that "[t]he press...guards against the miscarriage of justice by subjecting the police, prosecutors, and judicial processes to extensive public scrutiny and criticism."
   
   

10. See Defendant's Motion to Dismiss for Violation of the First Amendment.
    
    

11. United States v. Rasheed, 663 F.2d 843 (9th Cir. 1981), citing United States v. Ogle, 613 F.2d 233 (10th Cir. 1979), cert.den. 101 S.Ct. 87, reh.den. 1010 S.Ct. 594.
    
    

12. United States v. Haas, 583 F.2d 216 5th Cir. 1978), citing Seawright v. United States, 224 F.2d 482 (6th Cir.) cert.den., 76 S.Ct. 76 (1955).
    
    

13. U.S. v. Aguilar, 21 F.2d at 1485-6, citing United States v. Poindexter, 951 F.2d 369 (D.C.Cir. 1991), cert. denied, 113 S.Ct. 656 (1992).
    
    

14. United States v. Powell, 955 F.2d 1206 (9th Cir. 1991), citing Cheek v. United States, 111 S.Ct. 604, 610 (1991); United States v. Pomponio, 97 S.Ct. 22, 23 (1976).
    
    

15. Hamman v. U.S., 340 F.2d 145 (9th Cir. 1965) cert. denied,
    380 U.S. 977; Anderson v. Knox, 297 F.2d 702 (9th Cir. 1961); State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. v. Nycum, 943 F.2d 1100 (9th Cir. 1991);United States v. Loera, 923 F.2d 725, (9th Cir. 1991), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 854; United States v. Boise, 916 F.2d 497 (9th Cir. 1990); United States v. Soliman, 813 F.2d 277 (9th Cir. 1987); But see, United States v. Colarcurcio, 514 F.2d 1. (9th Cir. 1975) (admission of evidence of willfulness with improper instruction held as reversible error).
    
    

16. Hoffman v. Perruci, 117 F.Supp. 38 (E.D.Penn. 1953) (out-of-court publication of advertisements and pamphlet distribution does not interfere with the ordinary administration of justice); U.S. v. Ryan, 455 F.2d at 734; U.S. v. Aguilar, 221 F.3d at 1486; U.S. v. Ogle, 613 F.2d 233 (1979) (defendant was allowed to discuss at length one of his books, "Good Citizenship with Constitutional Tax Procedures"); and U.S. v. Price, 951 F.2d 1028 (9th Cir. 1991).
    
    

17. United States v. Ogle, 613 F.2d 233 (10th Cir. 1979), cert.den. 101 S.Ct. 87, reh.den. 1010 S.Ct. 594. is distinguished because the pamphlets there contained case specific information on the income tax, and were offered to a juror (who knew the defendant) in a personal communication by a mutual acquaintance.
    
    

18. U.S. v. Gay, 967 F.2d 322 (9th Cir. 1992), citing United States v. Hildebrandt, 961 F.2d 116 (8th Cir. 1992); See also, U.S. v. Mullins, 992 F.2d 1472, 1477 (9th Cir. 1993) (District Court did not err by excluding evidence concerning the purported "non-property" status of frequent flyer mileage, as it had nothing do with the claim that he lacked willfulness).
    
    

19. United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America v. United States, 330 U.S. 395, 408, 67 S.Ct. 775, 782 (1947); United States v. Martin Linen Supply Co., 430 U.S. 564, 572, 97 S.Ct. 1349, 1355 (1977); Connecticut v. Johnson, 460 U.S. 73, 83, 103 S.Ct. 969, 975 (1983); United States v. Hayward, 420 F.2d 142, 144 (D.C. Cir., 1969); United States v. Spock, 416 F.2d 165, 180 (1st Cir., 1969); United States v. Manuszak, 234 F.2d 421, 425 (3rd Cir.,1956); United States v. Johnson, 718 F.2d 1317 (5th Cir., 1983); United States v. Burton, 737 F.2d 439, 441 (5th Cir., 1984); United States v. Bass, 785 F.2d 1282, 1285 (5th Cir., 1986); Schwachter v. United States, 237 F.2d 640, 644 (6th Cir., 1956); Buchanan v. United States, 244 F.2d 916, 920 (6th Cir., 1957); United States v. Rowan, 518 F.2d 685, 693 (6th Cir., 1975); United States v. England, 347 F.2d 425 (7th Cir., 1965); United States v. Kerley, 838 F.2d 932, 937 (7th Cir., 1988); Compton v. United States, 377 F.2d 408, 411 (8th Cir., 1967); United States v. Goings, 517 F.2d 891, 892 (8th Cir., 1975); United States v. Garaway, 425 F.2d 185 (9th Cir., 1970); and United States v. Goetz, 746 F.2d 705, 708 (11th Cir., 1984).
    
    

20. Crane v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 683, 688, 106 S.Ct. 2142 (1986), at 688; United States v. Roark, 753 F.2d 991 (11th Cir., 1985); United States v. Cohen, 888 F.2d 770, 777 (11th Cir., 1989).
    
    

21. U.S. v. Powell, 955 F.2d at 1214; U.S. v. Gaumer, 972 F.2d at 724; Cheek v. U.S., 111 S.Ct. at 611.
    
    

22. The issue before the court was whether by introducing the literary testimony, the defendant opened the door to the admission of evidence that Defendant had extensive contact with a book advocating violence.
    
    

23. United States v. Calhoun, 726 F.2d 162, 164 (4th Cir., 1984); United States v. Sanders, 862 F.2d 79 (4th Cir., 1988);
    United States v. Quimette, 753 F.2d 188 (1st Cir., 1985); Rosario v. Kuhlman, 839 F.2d 918 (2nd Cir., 1988); United States v. Slaughter, 891 F.2d 691 (9th Cir., 1989), cert. denied, 112 S.Ct. 3053; Lufty v. United States, 198 F.2d 760 (9th Cir., 1952); United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 679 (1985) cited in United States v. Gillespie, 852 F.2d 475 (9th Cir., 1988); United States v. Cantu, 876 F.2d 1134 (5th Cir., 1989).