| Venue: | SCOTUS |
| Facts: | Old Chief had a felony on his record, and was arrested for a new set of deeds involving a gunshot. As a felon with his record, he really ought not to have had a gun. The prosecution wants to introduce evidence of the prior crime, and Old Chief just wants to stipulate that it was a felony for him to possess a firearm. |
| Posture: | Convicted at trial, appeal. |
| Issue: | Does a court abuse its discretion when it rejects an offer to stipulate to a prior conviction, favoring direct evidence that risks improper considerations? |
| Holding: | Yes. |
| Rule: | Rule 403 instructs the court to weigh probative value against some less desirable things, such as prejudice. |
| Reasoning: | Generally, a prosecutor is free to make a case however suits him/her best. But that doesn't extend to introducing evidence that will cloud the jury's ability to make a proper decision. |
| Dicta: | Dissent: we're only worried about unfair prejudice; you can't plead "partially guilty" to a crime. |