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217 F.2d 941

Docket No. 11394.

United States v. Willis

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

Argued Dec. 23, 1954.

Decided Jan. 4, 1955.

Third Circuit Court of Appeals · decided 1955-01-04

Cited by 5 later decisions — most recently February 1972

3 federal appellate · 1 district ·

2 counsel of record

Key passage — most relied on by later courts

“The criteria for granting a new trial on the basis of newly discovered evidence are set out in Johnson v. United States, 8 Cir., 1929, 32 F.2d 127”

quoted by 1 later decision, including United States v. Howell

Relies on Johnson v. United States · United States v. Rutkin

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Opinion by (per_curiam) · Decided 1955-01-04

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

¶1Ray E. Machen, Philadelphia, Pa., for appellant.

¶2Francis Ballard, Asst. U. S. Atty., Philadelphia, Pa. (W. Wilson White, U. S. Atty., Philadelphia, Pa., on the brief), for appellee.

¶3Before GOODRICH, and KALODNER, Circuit Judges, and LORD, District Judge.

¶4PER CURIAM.

¶5This is an appeal from the denial of an application for a new trial on the grounds of newly discovered evidence. The defendant had been convicted and sentenced following a jury trial. The trial judge gave him a thorough hearing on the application for a new trial. He concluded that the showing upon the application was insufficient to justify the relief sought.

¶6The criteria for granting a new trial on the basis of newly discovered evidence are set out in Johnson v. United States, 8 Cir., 1929, 32 F.2d 127. They met the approval of this Court in United States v. Rutkin, 1953, 208 F.2d 647. They were correctly applied to the situation by the trial judge.

¶7This case is not one where we should interfere with the discretion exercised by the trial judge in denying the motion. He did the right thing in granting a hearing and seeing the witnesses. While what they had to say is relevant we agree with the trial judge that it is impeaching testimony only and concur in his conclusion that it is highly doubtful whether the testimony would produce any different results at another trial.

¶8The judgment of the district court will be affirmed.

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