I get the distinct impression that these First Circuit judges are of the opinion that the defendant in this case is full of an undisclosed substance

http://media.ca1.uscourts.gov/pdf.opinions/17-1462P-01A.pdf

Below is the beginning and conclusion of a 47 page opinion denying all defendant’s claims upon appeal. It drips with sarcasm from beginning to end.

Appellate judges have to deal with lots of merit-less appeals, but evidently this one was ridiculous to the point where they basically ridiculed the defendant right back. :slight_smile:

Without using the precise words, they basically told the defendant he was full of ****. :smile:

United States Circuit Judge Ojetta Rogeriee Thompson wrote this little gem. Chief United States Circuit Judge Jeffrey R. Howard and United States Circuit Judge Sandra Lynch both joined the unanimous opinion.

<Note to Mods: As a work of the Federal Government, the following quoted material is in the public domain. Attribution is given to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.>

The decision starts with:

THOMPSON, Circuit Judge. In today’s story of why it’s
generally not a good idea to orchestrate and then participate in
an illegal narcotics distribution ring, meet Roger Belanger of
Corinna, Maine. Belanger was indicted on one count of conspiracy
to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms
or more of cocaine and an unspecified amount of oxycodone, in
violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(A), as
well as a separate count of using and maintaining a drug-involved
premises in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 856(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2.
After a five-day trial in the District of Maine, a jury of
Belanger’s peers found him guilty on both counts and he was
subsequently sentenced to eleven years imprisonment. Belanger now
comes to us presenting a host of supposed problems he says occurred
during the proceedings below. Having taken a look at Belanger’s
claims of error, we cannot agree and affirm

The decision ends with:

C. Conclusion
Our work here done, we affirm.

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