More from this issue:

1. News in Brief
2. Race-Based Arrests Rampant in San Francisco, by Kevin Bliss
3. Tracking the Prevalence of Police Crime, by David Reutter
4. Former Balch Springs, Texas, Officer Found Guilty of Murder of Black Teen, by Kevin Bliss
5. Massachusetts Drug Lab Scandal: Thousands More Cases Likely Affected, by Kevin Bliss
6. $225,000 Settlement by Detroit for Unjustified Shooting of Dogs in Drug Case, by Derek Gilna
7. Why Defining a ‘Credible Witness’ in Criminal Trials Is a Slippery Slope, by Steve Horn
8. Illinois Law on Informants Designed to Avoid Wrongful Convictions, by Betty Nelander
9. ‘Innocent Man Almost Executed’ Freed After Decade on Death Row, by Betty Nelander
10. Washington Governor Expects to Pardon About 3,500 for Single Misdemeanor Pot Convictions, by Betty Nelander
11. Police Commit Significant Number of Sex Crimes, Which May Shock the General Public but Not Those Familiar with Law Enforcement, by Kevin Bliss
12. Juror Bias Often Triggered by Severity of Crime Charged, by Edward Lyon
13. Investigation and Arrest of Mail Bomb Suspect Rips Cover Off Postal Surveillance, by Derek Gilna
14. Campus Cops on Municipal Streets Raises Transparency and Accountability Concerns, by Virginia Griese
15. Louisiana Ends Jim Crow-era Law: Unanimous Jury Requirement Now in Constitution, by Virginia Griese
16. ‘Texas Reneging on Deal’ With Draconian Sex Offender Registry, but Some Are Fighting Back, by Edward Lyon
17. Montana Supreme Court: Retrial Following Mistrial Declared Without 
‘Manifest Necessity’ Violates Prohibition on Double Jeopardy, by Mark Wilson
18. U.S. Senator Sounds Alarm on Privacy, Public Safety Concerns of Cell-Site Simulators, by Derek Gilna
19. DEA Agents Trap Cocaine-Trafficking Suspects with Doctored Blackberrys, by Derek Gilna
20. Federal Judge Signals That Defense Counsel Will Be Permitted To Argue Jury Nullification in Questionable Child Porn Prosecution, by Chad Marks
21. Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Rules Defense Attorney Violated McCoy, Reverses Capital Convictions and Orders New Trial, by Chad Marks
22. Nevada Supreme Court Reverses Convictions Where Trial Court Failed to Conduct Third Step of Batson Challenge, by Chad Marks
23. Sixth Circuit: Tennessee Aggravated Sexual Battery Is Not a SORNA Tier III Offense, by Christopher Zoukis
24. Georgia Supreme Court: Asportation Required to Support Kidnapping Conviction, by David Reutter
25. Montana Supreme Court Overrules Its Precedents Confusing Venue and Jurisdiction, Announces Venue Is Waivable But Cannot Waive Jurisdiction, by Dale Chappell
26. California Court of Appeal: Commissioner Cannot Preside Over Parole Revocation Hearing Absent Stipulation, by Douglas Ankney
27. Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules Attempt to Close Door in Officer’s Face Clear Signal that Consent Not Given for Warrantless Entry, by Douglas Ankney
28. Report: Bitemark Analysis Debunked as Pseudoscience, by Richard Resch
29. Montana Supreme Court: City May Not Impose Local Surcharge Not Authorized by State Law for Violation of State Criminal Statute, by Derek Gilna
30. Sixth Circuit Holds Tennessee Burglary Not Violent Felony Under ACCA, Overturning Previous Controlling Authority in Light of SCOTUS’ Mathis Opinion, by Dale Chappell
31. 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
32. West Virginia Supreme Court Vacates Sentence After State Violates Plea Bargain by Making Recommendation at Sentencing, by Matthew Clarke
33. Tenth Circuit Clarifies Proper Test for Pretrial Hearing on Seized Assets Needed to Retain Counsel, by Matthew Clarke
34. Public Support for Militarized Policing Ebbs, Fails to Improve Safety, by Edward Lyon
35. Minnesota Supreme Court Clarifies Rule Against Judicial ‘Participation’ in Plea Negotiations, by Dale Chappell
36. Study Shows Reassigning Problem Cops Could Have Saved Chicago More than $6 Million in Lawsuit Payouts, by Dale Chappell
37. Washington Supreme Court Announces Effective Date of Certificate of Discharge Is Date Offender Completes All Sentence Requirements, by Chad Marks
38. Fourth Circuit Vacates USSG Career Offender Sentence Predicated on Georgia Robbery, by Christopher Zoukis
39. Iowa Supreme Court Announces New SOL Rule for Consecutive Postconviction IAC Claims, by Dale Chappell
40. Ninth Circuit Remands Drug Case for Reconsideration of Sentencing Guidelines’ Minor-Role Adjustment, by Christopher Zoukis
41. N.Y. Court of Appeals Announces When Trial Commences for Timeliness of Pro Se Requests, by Edward Lyon
42. President Trump Signs First Step Act Into Law—It’s a Good Initial Attempt at Meaningful Reform, by Chad Marks
43. South Carolina Supreme Court Holds Broken Chain of Custody for Drug Evidence Requires Reversal of Conviction, by Dale Chappell
44. America’s Cities Are Criminalizing Homelessness, by Matthew Clarke
45. Habeas Hints: SCOTUS Review 2017-18, by Kent Russell, Tara Hoveland
46. Pennsylvania Supreme Court Holds Defendant Unambiguously Invoked Right to Remain Silent Suppresses Confession and Derivative Physical Evidence and Announces New Rule, by Chad Marks
47. Capital Punishment in the United States: Explained, by Jessica Brand, Callie Heller

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:

• Fourth Circuit Rejects Appeal of $700,000 Award to Maryland Prisoner Assaulted by Guards, May 1, 2023. Guard Brutality/Beatings, Settlements, Appeals.
• U.S. District Court Chooses Judicial Remedy, Instead of § 2255, to Allow Out-of-Time Appeal, July 15, 2020. Appeals, Ineffective Assistance of Counsel.
• Kansas Supreme Court: Claim of Illegal Sentence Raised for First Time on Appeal Entitled to Merits Review, March 18, 2020. Appeals, Sentencing.
• Ohio Supreme Court Announces State Cannot Raise Fourth Amendment Standing Issue for First Time on Appeal, Feb. 19, 2020. Appeals, Fourth Amendment, rights.
• New York Court of Appeals Reverses Conviction Where Trial Court Negotiated Cooperation Agreement with Codefendant, Feb. 18, 2020. Appeals, Trials.
• Third Circuit: Failure to Make PLRA Findings Moots Appeal, Feb. 4, 2020. PLRA, Appeals.
• Georgia Supreme Court Announces Fundamental Overhaul of Jurisprudence Governing Appeals of Guilty Pleas and Out-of-Time Appeals, Dec. 18, 2019. Appeals.
• Illinois Prisoner Wins Partial Victory on Appeal in Hernia Treatment Suit, Dec. 10, 2019. Hernias, Appeals.
• Florida Victims’ Rights Law Creates Confusion, Limits Time for Appeals, Dec. 9, 2019. Appeals.
• Indiana Supreme Court: Postconviction Petition Addressing Only Issues From New Trial, New Sentencing, or New Appeal From Federal Court via Habeas Proceedings Is Not a Second Petition Under State Law, Nov. 18, 2019. Appeals, Habeas Corpus.