More from this issue:

1. Washington Supreme Court Strikes Down Pornography Prohibition as Unconstitutionally Vague, by Christopher Zoukis
2. Sixth Circuit Rules Relying on Search Warrant Based on ‘Bare Bones’ Affidavit Objectively Unreasonable, Grants Motion to Suppress, by David Reutter
3. Victims’ Rights Laws a Threat to Due Process
4. Federal Court Suppresses Evidence Where Consent to Search Vehicle Obtained Via Google Translate, by Christopher Zoukis
5. Private DNA Lab Under Fire for Faulty Analysis, by Christopher Zoukis
6. ICE Utilizes Military-Style Shock Tactics to Round up Immigrants
7. Louisiana Supreme Court Holds Counsel’s Failure to Challenge ‘Stark Contrasts’ in Witness ID and Defendant’s Appearance Constituted IAC, by Dale Chappell
8. Sixth Circuit: Procedural Error and Plain Error for Judge to ‘Surprise’ Defendant and Impose an Upward Variance
9. Hawaii Supreme Court Vacates Conviction Because Defendant’s Waiver of Right to Testify Deficient Under State’s Tachibana Colloquy Requirement, by David Reutter
10. New Jersey Supreme Court Holds Inventory Search May Not Serve as Ruse for Investigatory Search, by Dale Chappell
11. Federal Judge Effectively Ends Albuquerque’s Civil Asset Forfeiture Program as Too Focused on Revenue and Not on Due Process, by Derek Gilna
12. Your Papers, May I See Your Papers?, by Christopher Zoukis
13. Hair Analysis a Useful but Not Foolproof Forensic Tool, by Derek Gilna
14. 1st Circuit: No Protective Sweep Where Identified Suspects Already in Custody at Time of Warrantless Search, by David Reutter
15. $9 Million Settlement in Baltimore Wrongful Conviction Case, by Christopher Zoukis
16. Civil Forfeiture Often Focuses on Profit Instead of Public Safety
17. Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association Backpedals on Its Pre-Trial Detainee Figures, by Derek Gilna
18. Idaho Supreme Court Rules Dead-Body Reporting Statute Unconstitutional As Applied to Defendant, by Richard Resch
19. Federal Judge Extends Stay of Executions in Louisiana, by Betty Nelander
20. Houston Forces Parolees out of City Under New Rule
21. From the Big Box to the Big House: Walmart Helps Tennessee Prosecutors Felonize Shoplifting, by Matthew Clarke
22. Iowa Supreme Court Announces Greater Privacy Protections Under State Constitution for Impounded Vehicles Than Provided by Fourth Amendment, by Richard Resch
23. New York, Faced With Millions in Payouts for Prosecutorial Misconduct, Becomes First State to Create Oversight Commission, by Derek Gilna
24. Fired Director of New York’s Criminal Forensic Science Division Alleges ‘Catastrophic’ DNA Errors, by Christopher Zoukis
25. Many Sheriffs Tempted by Lack of Oversight or Fiscal Accountability, by Matthew Clarke
26. 11th Circuit Rules Immigration Judges are United States Judges for Purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 115(a)(1)(B), by David Reutter
27. Study Indicates Link Between Officer Fatigue and Public Complaints, by Betty Nelander
28. ACLU Questions Trade Secrets Protecting DNA Testing Algorithms, by Dale Chappell
29. $28.1 Million Jury Verdict for Wrongful Convictions Upheld by 8th Circuit, by Kevin Bliss
30. Eric Schneiderman Pushed Laws Opposing Abuse of Women as He Stands Accused of Abusing Them Himself, by Steve Horn
31. Archaic Disciplinary System Allows Chicago Police to Delay Punishment, by David Reutter
32. Kentucky Supreme Court Tosses Evidence Holding Dog Sniff of Nervous Driver with Prior Drug Charges was Unreasonable, by Dale Chappell
33. New Jersey AG Intervenes in Possible Wrongful Conviction Case, Considers Reforms, by Christopher Zoukis
34. Seventh Circuit Affirms Order Granting New Trial Due to Newly Discovered Evidence, by Christopher Zoukis
35. Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Holds Sua Sponte Jury Instruction on Self-Defense Also Applies to Lesser-Included Charges, by Dale Chappell
36. NY Court of Appeals Affirms Dismissal of DWI for Improper Breathalyzer Refusal Warning, by Dale Chappell
37. 10th Circuit: Oklahoma’s Second-Degree Burglary Not an ACCA Qualifying Offense, by David Reutter
38. New Jersey Supreme Court Holds 2014 Amendment to Megan’s Law Violates Ex Post Facto Clause, by Dale Chappell
39. California Court of Appeal Holds Box Cutter Not ‘Inherently’ Deadly Weapon, by Dale Chappell
40. Kentucky Supreme Court Overrules Flawed Brindley Opinion and Announces Commonwealth Cannot Appeal Judgment of Acquittal, by Dale Chappell
41. Eight Death Row Prisoners Opt for Untested Nitrogen Gas Over Inhumane Lethal Injection, by Betty Nelander
42. Prosecutors Use Their Power to Help Reform Criminal Justice
43. Iowa Supreme Court Announces Actual Innocence Claim Is Freestanding Claim That Can Be Made Even After Guilty Plea, by Dale Chappell
44. NY Court of Appeals Holds Trial Court’s Failure to Advise Defense of Jury Note Contents Constitutes Reversible Error, by Dale Chappell
45. Insurance, Courts Protect Cops from Liability, by Dale Chappell
46. The Broad Reach of Carpenter v. United States, by Paul Ohm
47. Plainclothes Officers, 6 percent of NYC Police Force, Involved in 31 percent of Fatal Police Shootings, by Matthew Clarke
48. News in Brief
49. From Abuse of the Body to Abuse of the Mind: Police Use Psychologically Coercive Interrogation Techniques to Produce False Confessions, by Christopher Zoukis

More from Dale Chappell:

• Arguing Successful Federal Habeas Corpus Claims, June 1, 2025
• How to Take Your Postconviction Case Directly to the U.S. Supreme Court: A Roadmap to Direct Collateral Review, March 15, 2025
• Federal Habeas Corpus for State Prisoners: Proving Unreasonableness Under AEDPA, Feb. 1, 2025
• Federal Court Rules Michigan’s Sex Offender Registration Laws Violate Constitution, Dec. 1, 2024
• Refuting the Government’s Argument Against Nonretroactive Changes in Law as Grounds for Compassionate Release, Oct. 1, 2024
• Federal Habeas Corpus: Getting Around Procedural Default, July 15, 2024
• The Death of the Savings Clause, May 15, 2024
• Federal Habeas Corpus: Understanding Second or Successive Petitions for State Prisoners, April 15, 2024
• Fourth Circuit Reinstates Relief From Death Penalty, Citing State’s Forfeiture of Argument Against Relief, May 15, 2023
• Federal Habeas Corpus: The Evidentiary Hearing for Federal Prisoners, April 15, 2023

More from these topics:

• Illinois Supreme Court Announces Conviction 
for Attempted First Degree Murder Requires 
‘Intent to Kill Without Lawful Justification, Aug. 1, 2025. Jury Instructions, Ineffective Assistance of Counsel, Inconsistent.
• South Carolina Supreme Court Announces Traditional 
Four-Element Standard for When Person Has Right 
to Use Deadly Force in Self-Defense Not Applicable 
to Non-Deadly Force Self-Defense Analysis, May 15, 2025. Defenses, Jury Instructions.
• Minnesota Supreme Court Clarifies Standard for Determining Whether a Defendant Is Entitled to Jury Instructions 
on Self-defense and Defense of Others, May 15, 2025. Defenses, Jury Instructions, Jury Instructions in Jury Room.
• Maryland Supreme Court: Trial Court Abused Its Discretion by Failing to Exercise That Discretion Where It Summarily Refused Requested Jury Instruction Because It Was a Non-Pattern Instruction and ‘Some Evidence’ Supported the Instruction, March 15, 2025. Jury Instructions, Evidence - Failure to Disclose.
• Massachusetts Supreme Court Vacates Threat-Based Conviction on First Amendment Grounds Because Jury Instructions Failed to Include Mens Rea Element Mandated by Counterman for ‘True-Threat’ Conviction, Feb. 15, 2025. Jury Instructions, Resentencing, Threats, Negligence/Reckless Endangerment.
• Ohio Supreme Court Announces Self-Defense Jury Instruction Does Not Require Intent to Harm or Kill Assailant, Oct. 1, 2024. Defenses, Jury Instructions, Motive/Opportunity/Intent/Identity Evidence.
• Fourth Circuit Vacates Where Instructions Failed to Inform Jury That Mens Rea of ‘Knowingly or Intentionally’ Applies to ‘Except as Authorized’ in 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), June 15, 2024. Jury Instructions, Essential Elements of Crime, Mens Rea Element, Elements of Offense, Failure to Instruct on Scienter Requirement.
• 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.
• California Supreme Court Vacates Second Degree Murder Conviction Where Jury Instructed on Now Invalid Felony-­Murder Theory, Oct. 1, 2023. Jury Instructions, New Trial Motions, Murder/Felony Murder.
• New York Court of Appeals Announces When an Alternate Juror Is ‘Discharged’ and no Longer ‘Available for Service’, May 15, 2023. Jury Instructions, Jurors - Alternates.