NCJ Number
227163
Journal
American Criminal Law Review Volume: 46 Issue: 2 Dated: Spring 2009 Pages: 863-898
Date Published
2009
Length
35 pages
Annotation
This overview of the provisions and application of Federal law that specifies offenses whose effect is to obstruct justice focuses on the four provisions of the law given the most expansive treatment by courts.
Abstract
“Obstruction of justice” is defined as any “interference with the orderly administration of law and justice.” This area of Federal law is contained principally in Title 18 of the U.S. Code sections 1501-1520. This article addresses the four provisions given the most expansive treatment by courts: sections 1503, 1505, 1512, and 1513. Section 1503 governs obstruction of justice that affects jurors, officers of the court, and judges. Section 1505 governs obstruction of justice in proceedings before departments, agencies, and committees. Sections 1512 and 1513 pertain to witness tampering. Corporate accountability is addressed under sections 1519 and 1520. For each of these provisions, elements of the offense are explained, and popular legal defenses to charges under the provision are presented. The article’s concluding section indicates the sentences that attach to the obstruction-of-justice offenses discussed in the article. 214 notes