obstruction of justice

Obstruction of justice is a criminal offence in US federal law that prohibits any person from corruptly, or by threats and coercion, attempting to influence, impede or frustrate the due administration of justice. The primary authority is 18 U.S.C. § 1503, which expressly covers attempts to influence or intimidate federal jurors, judges and other court officers, as well as more generally obstructing the course of justice.

The concept covers a wide range of conduct: lies told to a federal court, tampering with or destroying evidence, pressuring or bribing witnesses, and any other deliberate act seeking to disrupt an ongoing federal judicial or law enforcement process. The decisive element is that the act must be committed 'corruptly' — that is, with intent to obstruct the administration of justice, not merely as a mistake or misunderstanding.

In cases directed specifically at witnesses or official proceedings, the supplementary provision 18 U.S.C. § 1512, which criminalises witness tampering, is frequently used. The two provisions partly overlap, but § 1512 is particularly relevant where the charge concerns direct influence on a witness's testimony or conduct in connection with an official proceeding.

In the Tonka case, Tonia Haddix lied to a federal court about the death of the chimpanzee Tonka in pending litigation. In the Watergate scandal, obstruction of justice was central to the charges against President Nixon's aides, who sought to cover up the connection to the break-in. Common to such cases is that the perpetrator deliberately attempted to mislead or sabotage a federal legal process.

A conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 1503 can carry up to ten years' imprisonment, and in cases resulting in death the penalty may be life. The prosecution does not have to prove that the obstruction actually succeeded — an attempt is sufficient for conviction.