United States v. Contreras’s Empirical Analysis
602 F.2d 1237 · 1979
Citation profile
42 federal appellate · 3 state decisions
How this case has been cited
Cited by 46 later decisions — most recently August 2006 · most notably United States v. Berkowitz (1981), United States v. Lindell (1989)
42 federal appellate · 3 state decisions
Later decisions citing this case, by decade. The current decade is in progress, and our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so the latest bars are undercounted — not a real decline.
Relationships
Applies 21 U.S.C. § 841 (§ 401 of the Controlled Substances Act)
Relies on Isbell Enterprises, Inc. v. Citizens Casualty Co. of New York · Alford v. United States · Smith v. Illinois · United States v. Beechum · Nogueras v. Puerto Rico International Airlines, Inc.
Most-quoted passages
The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 46 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.
“"Other crimes, wrongs, or acts. Evidence of other crimes, wrongs or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of-mistake or accident.””
3 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the concurrence“Alvaredo testified on direct examination that he observed the DEA agent lift a “coke” spoon to his nose, and that he knew it was a “coke” spoon “because I have seen a bunch of them in Playboys and this and that.” On cross examination, the prosecutor inquired into Alvaredo’s knowledge of cocaine and related paraphernalia, at one point, asking whether Alvaredo had discussed with a DEA agent “going to Ft. Stockton to purchase large quantities of cocaine.” Alvaredo denied the discussion, and the court properly overruled the defense’s objection to the inquiry. Contrary to appellant’s assertions, Rule 608 of the Federal Rules of Evidence is not applicable to this situation. This is not a case where specific instances of misconduct, totally unrelated to the witness’ substantive testimony, were used in an attempt to impeach. Alvaredo’s direct testimony revealed the alleged basis for his knowledge that the spoon he observed was a “coke” spoon. The government was entitled to test the credibility and factual foundation of that statement.”
1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the concurrencee.g. Spicer v. State“Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence.”
1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the concurrence
How this case has been treated — in progress
Whether each later court followed, distinguished, criticized, or overruled this decision. The treatment classification (task #35) runs highest-cited cases first and lights up here as it reaches this one.