United States v. Balint
United States Supreme Court
258 U.S. 250 (1922)
Relevant factsFree
Balint (defendant) was charged with selling opium and coca-leaf derivatives without the required documentation under the Narcotic Act of 1914, and demurred to the indictment on the ground it failed to allege he knowingly sold prohibited drugs; the district court sustained the demurrer and quashed the indictment, and the government sought Supreme Court review.
IssueFree
Whether a legislative body may enact laws supporting public policy that impose criminal liability without proof of a scienter (knowledge) element.