Overturning 2016 precedent, Florida top court says jury unanimity not needed for death penalty

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday overturned a 2016 decision and ruled that judges may impose the death penalty even when jurors do not unanimously recommend it.

Jan 24, 2020 2:47 PM CST

Justices should consider when wrongfully convicted can seek damages, ABA says

The ABA is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a case that “presents one of the increasing number of instances in which a prosecutor’s office has conditioned the release of an unlawfully convicted defendant on his agreement to a new plea—rather than vacating the prior conviction before bringing any new charges.”

Jan 14, 2020 10:46 AM CST

Pro se litigants in pop culture show why representing yourself can be a dangerous decision

The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals has a weekly mailing list that sends out the court’s published and unpublished cases. They arrive in quick succession every Thursday morning. It’s a…

Nov 25, 2019 10:45 AM CST

Prosecutors tossed from drug case after witness is used to record defense lawyer

A New Jersey appeals court has tossed prosecutors from a drug case because detectives wired a witness and sent him to record the criminal defense lawyer who had requested a pretrial interview.

Nov 1, 2019 11:33 AM CDT

Settlement provides for right to counsel in 2 municipal courts; ACLU hopes other cities take note

A federal judge in Charleston, South Carolina, has approved a $250,000 settlement that also ensures the right to a lawyer for some municipal court defendants.

Oct 11, 2019 10:48 AM CDT

SCOTUS opens new term with criminal law cases addressing insanity defense and unanimous juries

The U.S. Supreme Court has several blockbuster cases in its new term—on gay and transgender rights, federal immigration enforcement and gun regulation. But before it gets to any of those, the court on the first day of the term will take up two criminal law cases raising significant questions, even though only a handful of states are affected by each.

Oct 3, 2019 5:03 PM CDT

Chemerinsky: Weighty matters load the Supreme Court’s next term

The U.S. Supreme Court justices return from their summer recess Monday to a calendar filled with potential blockbuster cases. Typically, about half the docket is set before the justices’ recess at the end of June, with the remaining cases taken between the beginning of October and the middle of January. But just based on what already is on the docket, this term could be filled with cases of great significance.

Oct 3, 2019 6:00 AM CDT

Victim advocates concerned after Nevada top court gives jury trial right to accused domestic batterers

The Nevada attorney general and victims’ rights advocates are raising concerns about the impact of a recent Nevada Supreme Court decision giving misdemeanor domestic violence defendants the right to a jury trial.

Sep 19, 2019 10:47 AM CDT

Jailhouse lawyer who fought nonunanimous jury verdicts helped propel issue to Supreme Court

A former jailhouse lawyer in Louisiana who had a 10th grade education identified an issue that is now before the U.S. Supreme Court: whether it is constitutional to allow nonunanimous verdicts in state criminal trials.

Aug 6, 2019 9:26 AM CDT

New trial won for inmate convicted of plotting wood-chipper murder of federal judge

An inmate convicted in 2016 for seeking hit men to kill those who sent him to prison for scamming an elderly couple has won a new trial.

The 9th…

Jul 30, 2019 12:19 PM CDT

Supreme Court should end nonunanimous juries, ABA argues in amicus brief

It’s time to extend the Sixth Amendment right to a unanimous jury to the states, the ABA argues in an amicus brief submitted this week to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Jun 19, 2019 2:50 PM CDT

Military prosecutor accused of tracking defense lawyers’ emails is tossed from case

A military prosecutor accused of attaching tracking software to emails sent to 13 defense lawyers and paralegals is no longer prosecuting the case of a Navy SEAL.

A military judge…

Jun 4, 2019 11:00 AM CDT

Defense lawyers accuse military prosecutor of sending them emails with tracking software

A military prosecutor sent an email with tracking software to 13 lawyers and paralegals, as well as a reporter with the Navy Times, according to a motion filed last week.

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May 20, 2019 9:55 AM CDT

A ‘budding bromance’? These 2 justices mostly agree in SCOTUS decisions so far

The U.S. Supreme Court’s newest justice, Brett M. Kavanaugh, has sided with Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. in all but one of 25 official decisions.

USA Today notes…

Apr 8, 2019 2:20 PM CDT