US v. Agosto-Vega, 09-1158

US v. Agosto-Vega, 09-1158, concerned a challenge to a conviction of a company in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and its owner and principal officer for violating criminal provisions of the Clean Water Act.  In vacating the conviction, the court held that the district court committed a structural error by excluding the public from the courtroom during the selection of the jury.  However, in rejecting defendants' claim that the government failed to present sufficient evidence at the first trial to allow the jury to conclude that they were guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the charges presented against them, the court held that the government proved the charges against defendants by sufficient evidence to establish their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Related Resource:

• Full text of US v. Agosto-Vega, 09-1158