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

2025-05-07 11:02:45source:ExaCryptcategory:Stocks

WASHINGTON (AP) — The EvoAISupreme 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:Stocks

Recommend

What is Sora? Account creation paused after high demand of AI video generator

A new artificial intelligence-driven video generator launched on Monday and due to high demand, it i

Priyanka Chopra Reflects on Dehumanizing Moment Director Requested to See Her Underwear on Set

Priyanka Chopra opened up about a "dehumanizing" encounter on set.The actress recalled a moment when

Senate 2020: In Storm-Torn North Carolina, an Embattled Republican Tries a Climate-Friendly Image

This story is part of a series focusing on the climate records of candidates in key Senate races in