United States v. Lockett
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
919 F.2d 585 (9th Cir. 1990)
Police executing a search warrant found Bradford Lockett (defendant) and others inside a house containing 1,800 grams of cocaine, some already packaged into small bags in a room that looked like an assembly line for cocaine packaging. At trial, over Lockett's objection, a police expert testified that only people intimately involved in a cocaine-packaging operation would typically be allowed inside a house where such packaging occurred; Lockett was convicted and appealed, arguing this testimony improperly conveyed an opinion on his guilt.
Whether an expert witness may testify regarding an ultimate issue in a criminal case if the expert does not give a direct opinion about the defendant's guilt or innocence.