Criminal Justice

20576 ABA Journal Criminal Justice articles.

Cellphone video places Murdaugh at murder scene, says prosecutor in once-prominent lawyer’s trial

A prosecutor described cellphone video and gun residue on a raincoat Wednesday to support his contention that once-prominent South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh killed his wife, Maggie, and son Paul.

Jan 26, 2023 11:13 AM CST

From Amanda Knox to Kyle Rittenhouse, lawyer discusses justice and due process in the digital age

In Anne Bremner’s work as a Seattle-based trial attorney, she saw a disturbing pattern—that high-profile cases often trending on Twitter challenge the concept “innocent until proven guilty,” as cases are tried online, as well as in courtroom proceedings.

Jan 25, 2023 9:04 AM CST

DeSantis violated Florida Constitution by suspending prosecutor, but federal court can’t act, judge says

A federal judge in Florida has ruled that the 11th Amendment prevents him from ordering the reinstatement of a reform prosecutor suspended by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Jan 24, 2023 8:54 AM CST

Prosecutors face obstacles in prosecution of Alec Baldwin and armorer for cinematographer’s death

New Mexico’s involuntary manslaughter caselaw could raise obstacles for prosecutors who plan to charge actor Alec Baldwin and his armorer for the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Jan 23, 2023 9:34 AM CST

‘Tulsa King’ and a look at organized crime

Tulsa King stars Sylvester Stallone as a New York mafia capo recently released from prison after serving a 25-year sentence. Finally free, he is caught from left field with news that he’s being sent to Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Jan 23, 2023 8:43 AM CST

Former judge is disbarred for sexually harassing police officer, court reporter and prosecutor

A former judge in Chicago has been disbarred after he was accused of trying to kiss a police officer, asking a court reporter about the cost of sex, and making demeaning remarks about a prosecutor.

Jan 20, 2023 9:19 AM CST

Law prof stirs controversy with tweet calling Scalia ‘basically a klansman’

Updated: A professor at the Emory University School of Law is under fire after he tweeted that the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was “basically a klansman.”

Jan 18, 2023 12:35 PM CST

Security officer shoots armed man outside federal courthouse

A security officer shot and wounded a man who approached him with sharp objects outside the federal courthouse in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Jan 18, 2023 11:23 AM CST

Potential juror for Young Thug trial ordered to write 30-page essay after skipping return to court

A juror who skipped a return court appearance to be considered as a juror in the trial of rapper Young Thug has been ordered to write a 30-page essay focusing on the history of jury service in Georgia.

Jan 18, 2023 9:11 AM CST

Ex-lawyer who claimed wrongs by ‘bar card lynch mob’ charged with stabbing targeted attorney

A suspended lawyer in Renton, Washington, who once sued two other attorneys for defamation is accused of stabbing one of the lawsuit defendants in the back last month.

Jan 17, 2023 3:31 PM CST

Supreme Court will hear case of convicted stalker to decide mental state needed for ‘true threats’ conviction

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider what kind of mental state a speaker must have to be convicted for “true threats” that aren’t protected by the First Amendment.

Jan 17, 2023 2:24 PM CST

Weekly Briefs: Man pleads guilty in cold-case murder of law librarian; near-total abortion ban upheld in Idaho

A man convicted as a minor in 1964 for killing and raping a teen girl in Germany has pleaded guilty to the 1973 murder of a Stanford law librarian.

Jan 13, 2023 1:30 PM CST

Philadelphia DA wins challenge to his impeachment in appeals court

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives had no authority to issue articles of impeachment against progressive Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner because his alleged wrongdoing didn’t satisfy constitutional requirements, a state appeals court has ruled.

Jan 13, 2023 11:45 AM CST

Defendant goes free after prosecutor allegedly lies about content of ‘venue?’ note

Updated: A St. Paul, Minnesota, man accused of raping a 14-year-old girl is free after an assistant prosecutor trying the case allegedly lied about the content of a note passed to her during trial.

Jan 10, 2023 3:21 PM CST

Meet Fani Willis, the Georgia prosecutor investigating Trump and his allies

The Georgia prosecutor who will make the decision on whether to seek charges against former President Donald Trump or his allies is 51-year-old Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis, a former homicide prosecutor who now has a penchant for using the state’s broad racketeering law.

Jan 10, 2023 12:50 PM CST

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