Vreeken v. United States

How later courts describe this case

• holding correction officials in contempt for exceeding population cap established by consent decree when political difficulties and possible conflict with state courts were only reasons cited as making compliance impossible
• noting that Supreme Court recently held consent judgments enable federal court to adopt broader remedial measures
• “The trial court does not abuse its discretion as long as the jury receives sufficient information to appraise the biases and motivations of the witness.”
• impossibility defense inappo-site where county defendants’ compliance is hindered by political difficulties rather than physical impossibilities
• The Supremacy Clause of the Constitution prohibits state law from setting up a bar to enforcement of a federal judgment
• judgment of federal court must be respected even if compliance violates state law
• evidence of substantial debt admitted to show motive for bank robbery
• evidence of overdrawn bank account admissible to show robbery motive