by Kent Scheidegger · Sep 30, 2021 12:07 pm
The U.S. Supreme Court today released this short orders list with the partial results of the “Long Conference” on Monday. The Court took up one federal criminal case on the First Step Act and a few civil cases. Continue reading . . .
by Kent Scheidegger · Apr 19, 2021 8:00 am
The U.S. Supreme Court today took up a New York case presenting the question of when a defendant “opens the door” to evidence that would otherwise violate the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment. Continue reading . . .
by Bill Otis · Dec 18, 2020 11:15 am
Progressive social and criminal justice policies are running the show, or perhaps I should say running amok, in New York City. Such policies are said to aim to help the poor and those who must rely on public services. Just now I received a small but valuable insight from the brilliant Rafael Mangual who lives in the City. Judge for yourself how much “help” is being provided.
by Kent Scheidegger · Oct 13, 2020 9:13 am
The U.S. Supreme Court released an orders list this morning, taking up one set of consolidated civil cases. No criminal cases were taken up. No action was taken on a widely anticipated case regarding the Confrontation Clause and testimony on DNA test results, Chavis v. Delaware, No. 20-317. That case will likely be considered in another conference soon. Continue reading . . .
by Katherine.Stiplosek · Jul 1, 2020 2:27 pm
Part 2 of a three part series.
On Tuesday, June 16, President Trump signed an executive order, establishing preliminary measures taken by the federal government to begin police reform.
Trump’s speech started strong, as he revealed in his Rose Garden remarks that he’d had met with nine families who had lost members as a result of police brutality or racially motivated killings. As he unveiled the details of the new order, he addressed his private meetings with the families of Ahmaud Arbery, Botham Jean, Antwon Rose, Atatiana Jefferson, Jemel Roberson, Michael Dean, Darius Tarver, Cameron lamb, and Everett Palmer. Continue reading . . .
by Michael Rushford · Mar 31, 2020 10:42 am
In an unpublished ruling released earlier this month, a divided panel of the California’s First District Court of Appeal overturned the murder conviction of DeAngelo Cortijo, a well known Bay Area criminal justice reform advocate. The San Jose Mercury News reports that a jury found Cortijo guilty of the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Oakland resident Jamad Jerkins in 2016. At trial, Jerkins’ girlfriend testified that he had told her about an earlier incident where Cortijo had pulled a gun on Jerkins. The judge sustained the defense objection that the girlfriend’s statement was hearsay, and instructed the jury to ignore it, but he refused Cortijo’s request for a mistrial. Cortijo later testified that he had confronted Jerkins in an apartment parking lot, pointing a loaded gun at him, and claimed that when Jerkins tried to slap the gun away, it went off.
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