More from this issue:

1. Civil Asset Forfeiture: Unfair, Unjust, Un-American, by Christopher Zoukis
2. News in Brief
3. Driver’s License Required for Conviction as Florida Habitual Traffic Offender, by David Reutter
4. DNA Sketches Answer Prayers, Raise Concerns, by Dale Chappell
5. Research Needed: Do Drug Dogs Respond to Drugs or Handler?, by Christopher Zoukis
6. Questioning the Use of DNA Testing Software in Criminal Prosecution, by Christopher Zoukis
7. Maine Supreme Court: State Must Provide Evidence to Support Probation Revocation, by Dale Chappell
8. Texas Court of Criminal Appeals: Right to Appeal Judge’s Questioning Not Forfeited by Failure to Object, by Dale Chappell
9. Washington Court of Appeals Reverses Murder Conviction Due to Prejudicial PowerPoint, by Richard Resch
10. Louisiana Indigent Defendants Face Death Penalty Without Lawyers, by Christopher Zoukis
11. Two-Party Consent Law Forces Dismissal of 61 Cases in Washington Sting
12. Georgia Supreme Court Reverses Mutually Exclusive Guilty Verdicts, by Christopher Zoukis
13. Few Indigent Defendants Have Lawyer at Arraignment, by Mark Wilson
14. Ohio Supreme Court: Courts Can Seal Case Records Prior to Expiration of Statute of Limitations, by Dale Chappell
15. Massachusetts Supreme Court: Sleeping Juror Is “Structural Error,” Requires Intervention, by Dale Chappell
16. CA Court Rejects Inventory Search and Inevitable Discovery Arguments in Warrantless Search Case, by Richard Resch
17. California Court of Appeal: Prior Felony Does Not Convert “Wobbler” Into Felony, by Dale Chappell
18. Idaho Supreme Court: Suspicionless Fishing Expeditions Not Tolerated, by David Reutter
19. Georgia Supreme Court Instructs Federal Courts on Its Habeas Review Process, by Richard Resch
20. Houston Police End Use of Error-Prone Drug Field Tests, by Matthew Clarke
21. After 21-Year Imprisonment, Wrongfully Convicted Nevada Man Pardoned, by Christopher Zoukis
22. First Circuit: Plain Error Standard Met When Trial Court Emphasized Erroneous Jury Instruction, by Dale Chappell
23. New York Court of Appeals: Bail Bondsmen May Not Keep Premium If Defendant Not Released
24. Use of Sentencing Mitigation Videos Grows, by Derek Gilna
25. DNA Evidence: New Jersey Court Vacates Two 1996 Murder Convictions, by Mark Wilson
26. Curb False Confessions: Provide Suspects With Lawyers, by Derek Gilna
27. Fifth Circuit: “Fugitive from Justice” Enhancement Requires Intent to Avoid Prosecution, by Dale Chappell
28. Mississippi Capital Murder Conviction Reversed Due to Prosecutorial Misconduct, by Christopher Zoukis
29. Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas: Holds Trial Objection Enough to Preserve Issue for Appeal, by Dale Chappell
30. $2 Million to Disabled Syracuse Man Tased by Cops, by Dale Chappell
31. Hawaii Supreme Court: Defendants Entitled to Hearing Within 2 Days, by Dale Chappell
32. Seventh Circuit: Capital Case Defendant Denied Pro Se Right Granted Habeas Relief, by Christopher Zoukis
33. Jury Nullification: A Crucial Check on Government Power, by Christopher Zoukis
34. U.S. Murder Clearance Rates Among Lowest in the World, by Matthew Clarke
35. California Legalization of Marijuana Allows Convicted to Petition, by Derek Gilna
36. Second Circuit Vacates 60-Month Sentence in Model Guidelines Sentencing Decision
37. California Court of Appeal: Prejudice “Presumed” Where Jury Discussed Defendant’s Decision Not to Testify, by Dale Chappell
38. Massachusetts Supreme Court: Permanent Ban on Sealing Record of Sex Offender Unconstitutional, by Dale Chappell
39. Rhode Island Supreme Court Rules “Backseat Driver” Is a Real Thing Under Criminal Statutes, by Christopher Zoukis
40. Iowa Supreme Court: Search of Third-Party at Premises Subject to Warrant Violates State Constitution, by Richard Resch
41. Survival Tip: Don’t Call Cops If You’re Disabled, by Dale Chappell
42. San Francisco and San Diego Expunging Marijuana Convictions Under Prop 64
43. Ninth Circuit: Government Cannot Seize Cash Based Solely on Money’s Intended Use, by Christopher Zoukis
44. Unjust Sexual Offense Laws: Insanity and Hope, by Ken Abraham, Brenda Jones
45. Oregon Appeals Court: Defense Counsel Constitutionally Inadequate in Sexual Abuse Case, by Mark Wilson
46. Ninth Circuit Warns Prosecutors Against Interfering With Defendants’ Legal Representation; Reverses First-Degree Murder Convictions, by Richard Resch
47. $5.5 Million Verdict Against LAPD for Taser Death of Former Marine, by Derek Gilna
48. Overworked Missouri Public Defenders Fear Suspensions and Firing, by Mark Wilson
49. Prosecutor’s “Animosity” Toward Defense Leads Oregon Appeals Court to Vacate Convictions, by Mark Wilson
50. $9.5M Settlement Approved by Chicago City Council for Yet Another Excessive Force Case, by Derek Gilna

More from Christopher Zoukis:

• The Contraband Wars Prison authorities target books and mail, miss the goods coming through the staff door, July 1, 2021
• Trump v. Biden on Criminal Justice, Oct. 1, 2020
• Coronavirus in Prison: The Cruel Reality, Aug. 1, 2020
• With Lives of Immigrant Detainees at Risk to COVID-19, Federal Judge Forces ICE’s Hand, July 1, 2020
• A Nation on the Brink, June 15, 2020
• Federal Court Slams Michigan Jail for Bungling COVID-19 Pandemic, Demands Names of Vulnerable Prisoners for Release, June 1, 2020
• Silence: The Bureau of Prisons’ Pathetic Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, June 1, 2020
• New York Judge Orders Release of 18 Rikers Island Detainees Due to COVID-19 Risk, June 1, 2020
• Coronavirus: A Nationwide Survey of the Push for Early Release as Pandemic Fears Grow, May 1, 2020
• California Three-Judge Court Denies Emergency Motion to Reduce Prison Population During Pandemic, May 1, 2020

More from these topics:

• Idaho Moves Closer to Firing Squad Executions, May 1, 2026. Death Penalty, State Legislation, Method of Execution, Lethal Injection Method of Execution.
• Trump Approves Firing Squads for Federal Executions, May 1, 2026. Death Penalty, Domestic Violence, Cruel and Unusual Punishment, Method of Execution, Hate Crimes.
• Texas Prisoner Declared Innocent 70 Years After Execution, March 1, 2026. Racial Discrimination, Death Penalty, False Confessions, Eyewitness Identification, Prosecutorial Misconduct.
• Oregon Supreme Court Announces Bright-Line Rule Requiring Dismissal Without Prejudice When State Fails to Appoint Counsel for Eligible Criminal Defendant Within 60 Days in Misdemeanor Cases or 90 Days in Felony Cases Post-Arraignment, March 1, 2026. Appointment of Counsel, Public Defenders, Indigent Defense, Constitution, state, Counsel - Right to.
• Dissenter Excoriates SCOTUS for Denying Certiorari in Challenge to Constitutionality of Nitrogen Hypoxia Execution, Feb. 1, 2026. Death Penalty, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights, Capital Punishment, Cruel and Unusual Punishment, Method of Execution.
• 2025 Was a Deadly Year for Veterans Behind Bars, Jan. 1, 2026. Brain Injury, Death Penalty, Mental Health, Veterans, Mental Health Experts.
• Maryland Supreme Court Announces Public Defender Act Requires Effective Assistance of Counsel in Certiorari Petition Where Public Defender Appointed Panel Attorney for Direct Appeal and Certiorari Petition, Dec. 15, 2025. Public Defenders, Indigent Defense, Ineffective Assistance of Counsel, Statutory Construction/Interpretation, Strickland Standard.
• Oklahoma Prisoner Found Unconscious in Cell Hours After Avoiding Execution, Dec. 1, 2025. Public Defenders, Pardons/Clemency, Life without Parole (LWOP), Death Penalty, Effective Assistance of Counsel.
• Maine Superior Court Order to Reform Public Defender System Paused on Appeal, Dec. 1, 2025. Indigent Defense, Injunctions, Habeas Corpus, Sixth Amendment, Counsel - Constructive denial of.
• Missouri Blocks Spiritual Advisors from Prison Pastor’s Execution, Nov. 1, 2025. Pardons/Clemency, Death Penalty, Lethal Injection Method of Execution, Religious Freedom/Worship, Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA).