United States v. Lori Irish

MEMORANDUM

Lori Irish appeals her conviction, alleging that the government failed to turn over, on a timely basis, relevant information concerning her medical care provider and that the district court should have reopened the trial or granted a new trial. We affirm.

The materials in question were irrelevant to the theory of Irish’s defense: that the doctor prescribed medication that exacerbated Irish’s condition, prevented her from forming the requisite mens rea, or otherwise caused her to commit crimes. Nor could any of the materials be used to impeach the doctor. None of the evidence was admissible to show a character for untruthfulness under Federal Rules of Evidence 608 and 609, and regardless, Irish’s theory was that the doctor was incompetent, not untruthful. The circumstances that led to the Memorandum of Agreement were far too removed from Irish’s case to suggest any possibility of bias. The materials included nothing that contradicted the doctor’s testimony, revealed a prior inconsistent statement, or demonstrated a failure of perception or recollection. See generally 27 Charles Alan Wright & Victor James Gold, Federal Practice and Procedure § 6092 (2d ed.2009)…