Character Evidence

704 Florida cases classified under this topic, plus 170 listed through its narrower topics · sorted by citation count · see the citation graph · browse and sort

• Alverez v. United States
  282 F.2d 435· 9th Cir.· 1960-09-27 ·cited 28×
  The court held that the trial court did not err in its rulings regarding voir dire, character evidence, and the unavailability of a witness, and that the appellant received a fair trial.
• Rivers v. United States
  270 F.2d 435· 9th Cir.· 1959-09-09 ·cited 28×
  The court held that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting gruesome photographs of the victim's dismembered body and in its jury instructions regarding the presumption of sanity.
• Roberson v. United States
  237 F.2d 536· 5th Cir.· 1956-10-24 ·cited 28×·via Cross-Examination Of Character Witnesses
  The court held that the trial court committed reversible error by improperly allowing cross-examination of the defendant's character witnesses regarding prior arrests and convictions without proper safeguards, and by failing to conduct such inquiries outside the presence of the j
• United States v. Pasquale Pagano
  224 F.2d 682· 2d Cir.· 1955-07-05 ·cited 28×
  The court held that the trial was conducted with scrupulous regard for the defendant's rights and the record was free from error, thus affirming the judgment.
• United States v. Michelson
  165 F.2d 732· 2d Cir.· 1948-01-26 ·cited 28×·via Cross-Examination Of Character Witnesses
  The court held that the offer to bribe occurred in a different district than the trial venue, requiring reversal of that count, but affirmed the conviction on the first count.
• Milton v. State
  40 Fla. 251· Fla.· 1898-01-01 ·cited 28×
  Thomas Milton was convicted of first-degree murder for shooting Georgie McGraw in 1896. The Florida Supreme Court reversed due to two critical errors: an erroneous jury instruction regarding the defendant's authority as a police officer and the improper exclusion of testimony abo
• Reyes v. State
  580 So. 2d 309· Fla. 3d DCA· 1991-05-28 ·cited 27×
  The court held that the admission of prior consistent statements and testimony bolstering the victim's credibility constituted reversible error.
• United States v. White
  887 F.2d 267· D.C. Cir.· 1989-10-10 ·cited 27×·via Cross-Examination Of Character Witnesses
  The court held that admitting privileged attorney-client communications was not harmless error, requiring reversal of White's conviction, and that venue for Finotti's bribery conviction was improper in the District of Columbia.
• United States v. Dalfonso
  707 F.2d 757· 3d Cir.· 1983-05-12 ·cited 27×
  The court held that the trial judge did not err by refusing to recuse himself, nor by permitting a witness to invoke the Fifth Amendment on cross-examination regarding cumulative impeachment evidence.
• Watkins v. State
  342 So. 2d 1057· Fla. 1st DCA· 1977-02-25 ·cited 27×
  Appellant Watkins was convicted of robbery after a jury trial in which he and a co-defendant allegedly arranged what they claimed was a fake drug deal to prank two undercover police officers, but the situation escalated when one officer was shot. On appeal, Watkins challenges the
• Rivera v. State
  995 So. 2d 191· Fla.· 2008-06-12 ·cited 26×·via Admissibility Of Character Evidence
  Michael Rivera, a death row inmate, appealed the trial court's summary denial of his successive motion for postconviction relief. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal of Rivera's judicial bias claims but remanded for evidentiary hearings on his Brady/Giglio claims reg
• Wyatt v. State
  578 So. 2d 811· Fla. 3d DCA· 1991-04-23 ·cited 26×
  Jon Hall Wyatt was convicted of sexual battery and lewd assault on an eight-year-old child and sentenced to consecutive life sentences with 25-year minimums. He appeals challenging the exclusion of expert testimony that he does not fit the profile of a pedophile and claiming pros
• United States v. Ovidio Camejo
  929 F.2d 610· 11th Cir.· 1991-04-22 ·cited 26×·via Admissibility Of Character Evidence
  The court held that the trial court did not err in excluding evidence of prior good conduct offered to negate intent, that the evidence was sufficient to support the convictions, and that various procedural and evidentiary rulings were not grounds for reversal.
• United States v. Ehrlich
  902 F.2d 327· 5th Cir.· 1990-05-18 ·cited 26×
  The court held that the evidence was sufficient to support the embezzlement conviction, the trial court did not err in its evidentiary rulings or jury instructions, and the Sentencing Guidelines were properly applied.
• United States v. Ware
  897 F.2d 1538· 10th Cir.· 1990-03-09 ·cited 26×
  The court held that police officers deputized as federal agents could lawfully execute a wiretap under Oklahoma law, and that evidence of prior convictions could be admitted to show scheme or motive. Enhanced sentences were upheld under the sentencing guidelines.
• United States v. Morales-Quinones
  812 F.2d 604· 10th Cir.· 1987-02-20 ·cited 26×
  The court held that the district court did not err in denying the motion to dismiss the indictment, admitting prior conviction evidence, admitting hearsay, or in its rulings on the witness's silence and credibility.
• United States v. Wright
  783 F.2d 1091· D.C. Cir.· 1986-02-18 ·cited 26×
  The court affirmed the convictions of both defendants, finding no abuse of discretion in denying severance motions and no substantial prejudice from evidentiary rulings.
• United States v. Johnson
  720 F.2d 519· 8th Cir.· 1983-11-08 ·cited 26×·via Improper Character Evidence
  The dissenting judge holds that the prosecutor's cross-examination exceeded the bounds permitted by Federal Rule of Evidence 609, improperly painting the defendant as having bad character.
• United States v. Philip E. Kirk, M.D.
  584 F.2d 773· 6th Cir.· 1978-09-22 ·cited 26×
  The court held that sufficient circumstantial evidence existed to support the appellant's conviction for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, allowing for reasonable inferences of agreement and knowledge.
• Hodge v. State
  315 So. 2d 507· Fla. 1st DCA· 1975-06-30 ·cited 26×
  Homer Hodge was convicted of manslaughter after being tried for first-degree murder in connection with a fatal shooting at a bar. The appellate court reversed and remanded for acquittal, finding the State's evidence insufficient to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt because th
• United States v. Chrzanowski
  502 F.2d 573· 3d Cir.· 1974-08-28 ·cited 26×
  Evidence of other beatings and extortionate loan collections was permissible on rebuttal because it refuted specific testimony about legitimate loan operations, not merely reinforced the government's case in chief.
• United States v. Franklin
  471 F.2d 1299· 5th Cir.· 1973-01-16 ·cited 26×·via Cross-Examination Of Character Witnesses
  The court held that while cross-examining character witnesses about prior incidents using the "have you heard?" form is permissible, cross-examining the defendant directly about specific prior acts for which he was not convicted is improper and prejudicial.
• Cole v. State
  193 So. 2d 47· Fla. 1st DCA· 1966-12-08 ·cited 26×·via Admissibility Of Character Evidence
  Cole was convicted of manslaughter for shooting James Calhoun in a bar after Calhoun slapped him. The appellate court reversed because the trial court improperly excluded evidence of the deceased's violent character—evidence that would explain the deceased's threatening conduct a
• United States v. Haskell
  327 F.2d 281· 2d Cir.· 1964-01-27 ·cited 26×
  The court held that the evidence was sufficient to sustain the conviction and that the alleged trial errors were not prejudicial, affirming the judgment.
• Lane v. Warden, Maryland Penitentiary
  320 F.2d 179· 4th Cir.· 1963-06-03 ·cited 26×
  The court held that informing the jury of a defendant's prior convictions at the outset of a trial, as part of the indictment, denies the defendant due process of law and a fair trial.
• Baker v. United States
  227 F.2d 376· 5th Cir.· 1955-11-25 ·cited 26×
  Evidence of prior convictions is not admissible simply because the current charge does not require proof of specific intent.
• United States v. Levi
  177 F.2d 827· 7th Cir.· 1949-10-07 ·cited 26×
  The majority holds that asking an impeaching question about a conviction that did not exist constituted prejudicial error.
• Mannix v. United States
  140 F.2d 250· 4th Cir.· 1944-01-11 ·cited 26×
  The court held that the cross-examination of character witnesses regarding rumors of specific acts was permissible to test credibility, and refusing a jury instruction that character evidence alone could create reasonable doubt was proper.
• Midtown Enters., Inc. v. Local Contractors, Inc.
  785 So. 2d 578· Fla. 3d DCA· 2001-04-11 ·cited 25×
  Midtown Enterprises appeals a trial court order overturning a jury verdict and granting a new trial in a breach of contract case against a general contractor. The appellate court reverses, holding that the trial court's initial evidentiary rulings were correct and that the trial
• Norman v. State
  156 So. 2d 186· Fla. 3d DCA· 1963-09-10 ·cited 25×
  Richard Norman was convicted of two counts of murder in the second degree for killing his wife and her paramour at a motel after discovering them together. The Florida District Court of Appeal reversed and remanded for a new trial, finding that the trial court erred by excluding
• Lusk v. State
  531 So. 2d 1377· Fla. 2d DCA· 1988-09-30 ·cited 24×
  Charles Lusk was convicted of burglary, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, and petit theft arising from a confrontation at the victim's mobile home. The appellate court reversed due to cumulative trial errors, including erroneous jury instructions on self-defense, improper e
• United States v. Manos
  848 F.2d 1427· 7th Cir.· 1988-06-14 ·cited 24×
  The court affirmed the conviction, finding no abuse of discretion in the trial court's evidentiary rulings, denial of a continuance, or the prosecutor's closing argument.
• United States v. Solina
  733 F.2d 1208· 7th Cir.· 1984-04-27 ·cited 24×
  The court held that the district judge did not abuse his discretion in denying continuances for retained or standby counsel, excluding certain evidence, limiting witnesses, and in the prosecutor's closing arguments, and that any errors were harmless.
• United States v. Logan
  717 F.2d 84· 3d Cir.· 1983-09-12 ·cited 24×
  The court held that a district court has a duty to formulate a proper jury charge on character evidence when an improper request is made and the issue is not preserved, under penalty of plain error.
• United States v. Gaertner
  705 F.2d 210· 7th Cir.· 1983-04-08 ·cited 24×
  The court held that the search warrant affidavit was sufficient, the informant's statements were properly excluded as hearsay, prior drug convictions were admissible for impeachment, rebuttal testimony was properly admitted, and the sentence was not an abuse of discretion.
• United States v. Murzyn
  631 F.2d 525· 7th Cir.· 1980-10-03 ·cited 24×
  The court held that the introduction of prior misconduct evidence was permissible to rebut defenses of coercion and entrapment, and that other alleged errors did not constitute reversible error.
• United States v. Bocra
  623 F.2d 281· 3d Cir.· 1980-05-29 ·cited 24×
  The court held that the trial court did not err in limiting discovery and excluding evidence of other bribery cases involving the IRS agent, nor did it err in refusing to find entrapment as a matter of law.
• United States v. Haynes
  554 F.2d 231· 5th Cir.· 1977-06-20 ·cited 24×
  The court held that jury verdicts need not be consistent across counts, evidence was sufficient for conviction, and procedural/sentencing errors were not demonstrated.
• United States v. Robinson
  544 F.2d 611· 2d Cir.· 1976-11-01 ·cited 24×
  The dissenting judge held that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting evidence of the defendant's post-arrest possession of a .38 caliber handgun, finding it highly probative of his participation in the bank robbery.
• Howard Banks v. State
  298 So. 2d 543· Fla. 1st DCA· 1974-08-15 ·cited 24×
  Howard Banks was convicted of fondling a male child under 14 years old based on testimony from two child victims. The Florida appellate court reversed his conviction because the state improperly introduced testimony about a collateral offense involving a 14-year-old to demonstrat
• United States v. Kaufman
  429 F.2d 240· 2d Cir.· 1970-07-22 ·cited 24×
  The court held that the evidence was sufficient to support the jury's convictions for conspiracy and securities fraud, and that various evidentiary and procedural rulings by the trial court were proper.
• United States v. Light
  394 F.2d 908· 2d Cir.· 1968-05-16 ·cited 24×·via Rule Against Character Evidence
  The court held that the trial judge's marshaling of evidence, admission of rebuttal testimony, denial of motion to suppress SEC records, and admission of co-defendants' guilty pleas were not erroneous.
• Gross v. United States
  394 F.2d 216· 8th Cir.· 1968-05-06 ·cited 24×
  The court held that the prosecution's cross-examination of the defendants' character witnesses, without a proper showing of good faith basis and without adequate cautionary instructions to the jury, constituted prejudicial error.
• Harris v. State
  183 So. 2d 291· Fla. 2d DCA· 1966-02-23 ·cited 24×
  Harris was convicted of a crime against nature based on testimony that he confessed to being homosexual and having had relations with multiple men. The Florida appellate court reversed the conviction, holding that evidence of similar homosexual acts committed with different indiv
• Braxton C. Wallace v. United States
  281 F.2d 656· 4th Cir.· 1960-08-12 ·cited 24×
  The court held that while the evidence was sufficient to sustain a conviction, prejudicial conduct by the trial judge and prosecutor necessitated a new trial.
• Berthold Goodman v. United States
  273 F.2d 853· 8th Cir.· 1960-01-20 ·cited 24×
  The court held that the trial court did not err in refusing to instruct the jury on the elements of a 'scheme to defraud' without a specific request, nor in admitting evidence of other similar offenses to show intent, nor in allowing testimony from a co-defendant who pleaded guil
• Hoyt v. State
  119 So. 2d 691· Fla.· 1959-12-02 ·cited 24×
  Gwendolyn Hoyt was convicted of second-degree murder for killing her husband. On appeal, she challenged Florida's jury selection statute that required women to voluntarily register for jury service while men were automatically eligible, arguing this violated her right to an impar
• Kasper v. United States
  225 F.2d 275· 9th Cir.· 1955-07-11 ·cited 24×
  The court held that the defendant's conviction for tax evasion was supported by substantial evidence and that alleged errors in evidentiary rulings, jury instructions, and prosecutorial misconduct did not affect substantial rights or result in a miscarriage of justice.
• United States v. Johnson (two cases)
  165 F.2d 42· 3d Cir.· 1947-08-21 ·cited 24×
  The court held that the evidence was insufficient to establish Miller Johnson's participation in the conspiracy, requiring a reversal of his conviction. For three other appellants, the evidence was sufficient, and their convictions were affirmed.
• United States v. Nettl
  121 F.2d 927· 3d Cir.· 1941-06-23 ·cited 24×
  The court held that the prosecutor's persistent questioning about a prior conviction, which the defendant denied and which was not proven, was prejudicial error requiring reversal.