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Failure to Recogzie Justification Defense to 922(g) Charge is Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

By Jonathan Byrne

US v. Mooney: Mooney was a convicted felon. One night, after returning home from work at a nearby bar in Huntington, West Virginia Mooney found himself in a room with his ex-wife (with whom he shared the home), who was putting a gun to his head. Mooney's ex had (as the court put it) "a propensity to brandish and shoot guns at the men in her life," having previously shot another husband, shot at a boyfriend, and brandished a gun at Mooney on a prior occasion. Mooney took the gun away from his ex and called his boss at the bar to let him know he was bringing the gun to the bar in order to turn it in to the police. Mooney then tried twice to call 911, but his ex disconnected the calls. As he left the house, she ripped his shirt off and yelled at him that he was going to jail...continue to full post

Full post as published by Fourth Circuit Blog on August 07, 2007 (boomark / email).