More from this issue:

1. Secret ATF Slush Fund Dispensed Millions, by Christopher Zoukis
2. Ohio Supreme Court: Dismissal Without Prejudice Is a Final and Appealable Order, by Dale Chappell
3. The Fair Punishment Project Details an “Epidemic of Brady Violations”, by Christopher Zoukis
4. Misdemeanor Defendants Facing Jail Time Not Told They Have a Right to Counsel, Bar Association Finds, by Topher Sanders
5. Cryptocurrency Leveraged to Help People Make Bail, by Derek Gilna
6. What Is the Number One Duty of a Police Officer?, by Christopher Zoukis
7. Deaths From Police Shootings Outstrip Deaths From Terrorists Attacks, Wars, by Derek Gilna
8. Massachusetts Breathalyzer Malfunctions, Evidence Withheld
9. Fifth Circuit Vacates Sex Offender Supervised Release Conditions, by Mark Wilson
10. Eighth Circuit Reverses Convictions Due to Constructive Amendment of Charges, by Mark Wilson
11. Louisiana Prosecutors’ Traffic Ticket Industry Diverting Funds From Public Defenders, by David Reutter
12. “My Phone Was My Life”—Challenging Warrantless Border Searches of Devices, by Dale Chappell
13. Fourth Circuit Vacates Brady Claim Denial in Capital Case and Rebukes Prosecutors, by Richard Resch
14. 10th Circuit Suppresses Evidence Based on Overbroad Protective Sweep Under Buie, by Richard Resch
15. Georgia Hearsay Admissible Under Co-Conspirator Exception, by Mark Wilson
16. Kentucky Supreme Court Clarifies Adoptive Admission Exception to Hearsay Rule, by Christopher Zoukis
17. Colorado Supreme Court: Criminal Defendant Seeking to Fire Paid, Retained Counsel for Court-Appointed Counsel Need Not Show Good Cause, by Christopher Zoukis
18. North Dakota Supreme Court: Warrantless Urine Test Incident to Arrest for DUI Is Unconstitutional Search, by David Reutter
19. Compensating the Exonerated: State Laws Are Arbitrary and Senseless, by Christopher Zoukis
20. Oregon Court Vacates Order Refusing to Seal Arrest Record, by Mark Wilson
21. Vermont Guilty Plea Requires Defendant to Personally Acknowledge Factual Basis for Each Element of the Offenses Charged, by Mark Wilson
22. More Than Half of 2015 Police Killings Not Properly Documented in Government Data, by Christopher Zoukis
23. Massachusetts High Court Vacates OUI Conviction for Improper Jury Instruction in Which Judge Told Jury to Disregard the Absence of Any Sobriety Tests, by Christopher Zoukis
24. 50 Alabama Cities Reform Bail Practices for Poor, by David Reutter
25. Eighth Circuit Upholds Warrantless Search of Cellphone Owned by Person on Supervised Release Due to Diminished Expectation of Privacy, by Mark Wilson
26. Government Attempt to Shoehorn Union Activity into Hobbs Act Violation Rejected by First Circuit, by Christopher Zoukis
27. 11th Circuit Rules Counsel Deficient for Failing to Challenge “Usable” Amount in Drug Case, by David Reutter
28. Washington Supreme Court Grants Full Evidentiary Hearing for Civilly Committed SVP, by Mark Wilson
29. In Historic Move, 15 Cases Related to Crooked Chicago Cop Thrown Out, by Christopher Zoukis
30. Oregon Supreme Court Rules Warrantless Entry Into Home in Effort to Obtain Nonconsensual BAC Evidence Not Exigent Circumstance, by Mark Wilson
31. Ohio Supreme Court Holds Exclusion of Evidence Inappropriate Remedy for Violation of Knock-And-Announce Principle Where Search Warrant Issued, by Mark Wilson
32. Georgia Supreme Court Reverses Armed Robbery Conviction, Defendant Lacked Dominion, by Dale Chappell
33. Oregon Court of Appeals Rules Defendant’s Motion to Suppress Satisfied Uniform Trial Court Rule 4.060(1)
34. The Insanity Defense: It’s Not What You Think, by Christopher Zoukis
35. Second Circuit: Arrest for Not Leaving Sidewalk Entitled to Qualified Immunity, by Mark Wilson
36. New York Court of Appeals: Criminal Trial Judge Cannot Also Be Sole Appellate Judge
37. $5.5 Million Verdict Against Los Angeles Police Department for Taser Death
38. Equivocal Request for Counsel Requires Police to Seek Clarification of Suspect’s Intent Under Oregon Law
39. Stingray Technology Lets G-Men Into Your Pocket (and Your House, and Your Car...), by Christopher Zoukis
40. Habeas Hints: Ineffective Assistance of Trial Counsel - Hints for 2018: IAC #1, by Kent Russell, Tara Hoveland
41. Confronting the Myth in Police-Suspect Knife Confrontations, by Derek Gilna
42. Yes, Lawsuits Are Expensive—But So Is Police Misconduct, by Antonio Romanucci
43. $44.7 Million Awarded to Man Shot by Intoxicated Chicago Police Officer With Troubled History, by Derek Gilna
44. District Attorney in New York and Aide Indicted for Covering up Beating by Police Chief, by Derek Gilna
45. From the Editor, by Richard Resch
46. Eighth Circuit: Illinois Burglary Conviction Not Valid Predicate Offense for ACCA Purposes
47. News in Brief
48. Have the Wars on Drugs and Terror Transformed the U.S. Into a Police State?, 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:

• 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.
• 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.
• Indiana Supreme Court Announces Whether Defendant’s Actions Were “Objectively Reasonable” Justifying Self-Defense Can Be Considered in Hindsight, Sept. 15, 2025. U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Criminal Procedure, Appealable Issues/Orders.
• Connecticut Supreme Court Announces Teague’s ‘Watershed’ Rule Exception to Nonretroactivity of New Constitutional Rule of Criminal Procedure on Collateral Review Has ‘Continued Vitality’ in Connecticut, Adoption of Third Exception to Teague’s Nonretroacti, April 15, 2025. Retroactivity, Criminal Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, Eyewitness Identification.
• Study Finds Public Defenders’ Heavy Workloads Prevent Effective Representation, Amendments to 50-Year-Old Guidelines Recommended, Feb. 15, 2024. Public Defenders, Strickland Standard, Per se ineffectiveness.
• Kentucky Supreme Court Clarifies When Lesser-Included Offense Instruction Must Be Provided, Reverses Convictions Based on Trial Court’s Failure to Properly Instruct Jury, Dec. 15, 2023. Jury Instructions, Criminal Procedure, Fair Trial, Verdicts.
• ABA Says Oregon Needs 1,296 More Public Defenders, May 15, 2022. Public Defenders.
• Who Defends the Public Defenders?, Dec. 15, 2021. Attorney Misconduct, Public Defenders.
• Study Shows Public Defenders Outperform Court Appointed Private Attorneys, Oct. 15, 2021. Appointment of Counsel, Public Defenders.