United States v. Olsen

A plain-English summary from Criminal Defense Resources™, a free resource for pro per/pro se defendants and their families.

General educational information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. This page describes what a court decided in general terms. It does not tell you what to do in any case.

Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Decided: January 8, 2013
Citation: 704 F.3d 1172 (9th Cir. 2013)
Topics: Discovery & Brady Evidence

What did the court decide?

The Ninth Circuit found that the government did not disclose information about problems with a state crime lab forensic scientist who worked on the case. But the court held the information was not "material" given the other evidence, so the conviction was affirmed.

Why does it matter?

A Brady claim requires more than showing evidence was withheld. Courts also ask whether it could reasonably have changed the outcome.

Where can I read the full opinion?

Read the full opinion on CourtListener →

Always read the full opinion and check whether later cases have limited or changed it. A summary can leave out important details.

Related rulings

Kyles v. Whitley (U.S. Supreme Court, 1995)
Giglio v. United States (U.S. Supreme Court, 1972)
Brady v. Maryland (U.S. Supreme Court, 1963)

General educational information, not legal advice. Not a law firm.