×
You've used up your 3 free articles for this month. Subscribe today.
Why Defining a ‘Credible Witness’ in Criminal Trials Is a Slippery Slope
by Steve Horn
In the aftermath of her testimony before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford was hailed by legal scholars, legal practitioners, and laypeople alike as a “credible witness.”
Blasey Ford, a psychology professor at Palo Alto University, testified at a hearing September 27, 2018, set ...
Full article and associated cases available to subscribers.
As a digital subscriber to Criminal Legal News, you can access full text and downloads for this and other premium content.
Already a subscriber? Login
More from this issue:
- News in Brief
- Race-Based Arrests Rampant in San Francisco, by Kevin Bliss
- Tracking the Prevalence of Police Crime, by David Reutter
- Former Balch Springs, Texas, Officer Found Guilty of Murder of Black Teen, by Kevin Bliss
- Massachusetts Drug Lab Scandal: Thousands More Cases Likely Affected, by Kevin Bliss
- $225,000 Settlement by Detroit for Unjustified Shooting of Dogs in Drug Case, by Derek Gilna
- Why Defining a ‘Credible Witness’ in Criminal Trials Is a Slippery Slope, by Steve Horn
- Illinois Law on Informants Designed to Avoid Wrongful Convictions, by Betty Nelander
- ‘Innocent Man Almost Executed’ Freed After Decade on Death Row, by Betty Nelander
- Washington Governor Expects to Pardon About 3,500 for Single Misdemeanor Pot Convictions, by Betty Nelander
- Police Commit Significant Number of Sex Crimes, Which May Shock the General Public but Not Those Familiar with Law Enforcement, by Kevin Bliss
- Juror Bias Often Triggered by Severity of Crime Charged, by Edward Lyon
- Investigation and Arrest of Mail Bomb Suspect Rips Cover Off Postal Surveillance, by Derek Gilna
- Campus Cops on Municipal Streets Raises Transparency and Accountability Concerns, by Virginia Griese
- Louisiana Ends Jim Crow-era Law: Unanimous Jury Requirement Now in Constitution, by Virginia Griese
- ‘Texas Reneging on Deal’ With Draconian Sex Offender Registry, but Some Are Fighting Back, by Edward Lyon
- Montana Supreme Court: Retrial Following Mistrial Declared Without ‘Manifest Necessity’ Violates Prohibition on Double Jeopardy, by Mark Wilson
- U.S. Senator Sounds Alarm on Privacy, Public Safety Concerns of Cell-Site Simulators, by Derek Gilna
- DEA Agents Trap Cocaine-Trafficking Suspects with Doctored Blackberrys, by Derek Gilna
- Federal Judge Signals That Defense Counsel Will Be Permitted To Argue Jury Nullification in Questionable Child Porn Prosecution, by Chad Marks
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Rules Defense Attorney Violated McCoy, Reverses Capital Convictions and Orders New Trial, by Chad Marks
- Nevada Supreme Court Reverses Convictions Where Trial Court Failed to Conduct Third Step of Batson Challenge, by Chad Marks
- Sixth Circuit: Tennessee Aggravated Sexual Battery Is Not a SORNA Tier III Offense, by Christopher Zoukis
- Georgia Supreme Court: Asportation Required to Support Kidnapping Conviction, by David Reutter
- Montana Supreme Court Overrules Its Precedents Confusing Venue and Jurisdiction, Announces Venue Is Waivable But Cannot Waive Jurisdiction, by Dale Chappell
- California Court of Appeal: Commissioner Cannot Preside Over Parole Revocation Hearing Absent Stipulation, by Douglas Ankney
- Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules Attempt to Close Door in Officer’s Face Clear Signal that Consent Not Given for Warrantless Entry, by Douglas Ankney
- Report: Bitemark Analysis Debunked as Pseudoscience, by Richard Resch
- Montana Supreme Court: City May Not Impose Local Surcharge Not Authorized by State Law for Violation of State Criminal Statute, by Derek Gilna
- Sixth Circuit Holds Tennessee Burglary Not Violent Felony Under ACCA, Overturning Previous Controlling Authority in Light of SCOTUS’ Mathis Opinion, by Dale Chappell
- Maine Supreme Court Rules Double Jeopardy Bars Re-Use of Evidence at Second Trial After Acquittal Based on Same Evidence at First Trial on Different Charges, by Dale Chappell
- West Virginia Supreme Court Vacates Sentence After State Violates Plea Bargain by Making Recommendation at Sentencing, by Matthew Clarke
- Tenth Circuit Clarifies Proper Test for Pretrial Hearing on Seized Assets Needed to Retain Counsel, by Matthew Clarke
- Public Support for Militarized Policing Ebbs, Fails to Improve Safety, by Edward Lyon
- Minnesota Supreme Court Clarifies Rule Against Judicial ‘Participation’ in Plea Negotiations, by Dale Chappell
- Study Shows Reassigning Problem Cops Could Have Saved Chicago More than $6 Million in Lawsuit Payouts, by Dale Chappell
- Washington Supreme Court Announces Effective Date of Certificate of Discharge Is Date Offender Completes All Sentence Requirements, by Chad Marks
- Fourth Circuit Vacates USSG Career Offender Sentence Predicated on Georgia Robbery, by Christopher Zoukis
- Iowa Supreme Court Announces New SOL Rule for Consecutive Postconviction IAC Claims, by Dale Chappell
- Ninth Circuit Remands Drug Case for Reconsideration of Sentencing Guidelines’ Minor-Role Adjustment, by Christopher Zoukis
- N.Y. Court of Appeals Announces When Trial Commences for Timeliness of Pro Se Requests, by Edward Lyon
- President Trump Signs First Step Act Into Law—It’s a Good Initial Attempt at Meaningful Reform, by Chad Marks
- South Carolina Supreme Court Holds Broken Chain of Custody for Drug Evidence Requires Reversal of Conviction, by Dale Chappell
- America’s Cities Are Criminalizing Homelessness, by Matthew Clarke
- Habeas Hints: SCOTUS Review 2017-18, by Tara Hoveland, Kent Russell
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court Holds Defendant Unambiguously Invoked Right to Remain Silent Suppresses Confession and Derivative Physical Evidence and Announces New Rule, by Chad Marks
- Capital Punishment in the United States: Explained, by Callie Heller, Jessica Brand
More from Steve Horn:
- Lack of Academic Research in U.S. on Secondary DNA Transfer Affects Criminal Defendants, Oct. 14, 2019
- Opioid Epidemic Impacts Prisons and Jails, Sept. 5, 2019
- Report Finds Lack of Reporting on Deaths in Law Enforcement Custody, Even After Landmark Legislation, July 17, 2019
- New Study Finds Mass Incarceration Impacts Over Half of U.S. Families, July 2, 2019
- HRDC Files Public Records Suits, Argues GEO Group is a De Facto Public Agency, June 3, 2019
- DEA Used Decades of Warrantless Phone Data in Building Parallel Construction Cases, May 15, 2019
- Inspector General: California Prison Guards Violate Use of Force Policies Half the Time, May 2, 2019
- Vermont Prisoner Sexually Abused at Private Prison in Michigan Receives $750, May 2, 2019
- California Prison Psychiatrists Blow Whistle on Poor Mental Healthcare, Falsified Records, April 2, 2019
- Ohio County Jail Settles PLN Censorship Suit for $45,000, April 2, 2019
More from these topics:
- 428 Georgia Prison Employees Criminally Charged in Five Years, April 1, 2024. Guard Misconduct, Criminal Prosecution, Statistics/Trends.
- Tenth Circuit Vacates Oklahoma Prisoners’ Witness Tampering Conviction, Oct. 31, 2022. Witnesses.
- Iowa Supreme Court Clarifies When Forensic Interviews of Child Complaining Witnesses Are Admissible, March 15, 2022. Witnesses, Battered Child/Spouse Evidence.
- Fatal Shootings by Police Rarely Prosecuted, Feb. 15, 2021. Criminal Prosecution, Shootings, Excessive Force (Police).
- Charges Finally Announced 32 Months After South Carolina Prison Riot, Jan. 1, 2021. Prison Rebellion, Criminal Prosecution.
- Injunction Orders Protection for Prisoner Witnesses in California Disability Lawsuit, Aug. 1, 2020. Disabled Prisoners, Retaliation for Litigating, Witnesses, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement.
- Former Captain at Louisiana Private Prison Sentenced for Conspiracy to Violate Ban on Cruel and Unusual Punishment, April 1, 2020. Private Prisons, Guard Misconduct, Criminal Prosecution, Guard Brutality/Beatings.
- Prosecutors Sue Firm for Selling Bureau of Prisons Adulterated Food, Spices, April 1, 2020. Contractor Misconduct, Criminal Prosecution.
- Illinois Prisoner Locked Up Decades Without a Conviction or Sentence, April 1, 2020. Criminal Prosecution, Sentencing.
- Rhode Island Supreme Court Reverses Conviction Due to Prosecutor’s Remarks and Jury Consideration of Inadmissible Evidence, March 18, 2020. Trials, Wrongful Conviction.
