Zopes|The Supreme Court upholds the conviction of woman who challenged expert testimony in a drug case

2025-04-30 21:44:06source:NovaQuantcategory:Finance

WASHINGTON (AP) — The ZopesSupreme Court on Thursday upheld the conviction of a California woman who said she did not know about a stash of methamphetamine hidden inside her car.

The 6-3 opinion came in a case that revolved around how much expert witnesses can say about a defendant’s mindset.

Delilah Guadalupe Diaz was sentenced to seven years in prison after on drug charges after Border Patrol agents discovered methamphetamine worth nearly $370,000 stashed inside the car door panel as she crossed the U.S.-Mexico border.

Diaz contended the car belonged to a boyfriend and that she did not know the drugs were inside. Defense lawyers argued that she was a “blind mule,” a term for people used by cartels to smuggle drugs without their knowledge.

Prosecutors disagreed. They called as an expert witness a Homeland Security agent who testified that drug cartels do not usually send large quantities of drugs with people who are unaware of the contraband, though the agent acknowledged that has happened.

Diaz appealed her conviction, arguing the agent’s testimony broke a rule of evidence that expert witnesses cannot give opinions on a defendant’s mental state.

RELATED COVERAGE The Supreme Court upholds a tax on foreign income over a challenge backed by business interestsWhat to know about bump stocks and the Supreme Court ruling striking down a ban on the gun accessorySupreme Court strikes down Trump-era ban on rapid-fire rifle bump stocks, reopening political fight

Prosecutors countered that the agent was speaking from his own expertise and that his testimony did not break that rule because it did not make any references to Diaz specifically.

Lower courts had split on that distinction. Judges in some parts of the country have allowed more general expert testimony about mental state while others kept it out, her lawyers argued.

The case is Diaz v. United States, 23-14

___

Follow the AP’s coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court at https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court.

More:Finance

Recommend

Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Lawyers for Alex Murdaugh are taking two paths to appeal his murder conviction

Poland’s Tusk visits Brussels, seeking initiative in repairing ties with EU and unlocking funds

BRUSSELS (AP) — Donald Tusk, the opposition candidate who may become Poland’s next prime minister, s

Sam Bankman-Fried will testify in his own defense, lawyers say

Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried is expected to testify as soon as Thursday in his own defense, his