More from this issue:

1. News in Brief
2. Killer’s Bold DNA-Based Defense to Get New Mexico Supreme Court Hearing, by Bill Barton
3. Study: Brazen Cops Posting Racist, Vitriolic Comments on the Internet, by Edward Lyon
4. Chicago PD Creating Files, Background Checks on Citizens Who Speak at Police Disciplinary Meetings, by Dale Chappell
5. Kentucky Supreme Court Rules Parole Board’s Revocation Procedures Are Unconstitutional, by Douglas Ankney
6. 7th Circuit Announces SORNA Requires Hybrid Approach in Comparing Underlying Conviction to Determine Tier Classification, by Anthony Accurso
7. Tenth Circuit Vacates Special Condition of Supervised Release That Gave Probation Officers Discretion to Ban Computer and Internet Usage, by Douglas Ankney
8. Arrest for Shouting ‘F—k You’ to Arkansas Trooper Violates First and Fourth Amendments Rights, Eighth Circuit Rules, by Michael Berk
9. Michigan Will Pay $1.5 Million to Longest Serving Exonerated Prisoner, by Bill Barton
10. MIX13 Reveals Potential Errors in DNA Testing, by Jayson Hawkins
11. Ninth Circuit Announces that District Court Cannot Sua Sponte Raise Waiver as Ground to Dismiss Motion for Sentence Reduction, by Douglas Ankney
12. First Circuit: Prosecutor Not Entitled to Absolute Immunity When Performing Purely Administrative Duty, by Anthony Accurso
13. New North Dakota Law Arrests Cops’ Ability to Seize Property, by Douglas Ankney
14. Black Drivers in Missouri 91 Percent More Likely to Be Stopped Than White Drivers, by Bill Barton
15. Maryland Court of Appeals: Sentence Imposed on Remand That Is of Equal Maximum Length as Former Sentence but With Longer Term Before Parole Eligibility Is ‘More Severe’, by Douglas Ankney
16. Delaware Supreme Court: Where Defendant Competent to Plead ‘Guilty but Mentally Ill,’ He May Revoke Plea Before It Is Accepted, by Anthony Accurso
17. First Circuit Rules Appeal Waiver Does Not Relieve Counsel of Duty to Consult About an Appeal, by Dale Chappell
18. Fifth Circuit Announces that Categorical Approach Applied to SORNA Doesn’t Permit Circustance-Specific Inquiry Into Offender/Victim Age Differential, by Douglas Ankney
19. Seventh Circuit Announces That More Than Psychological Coercion Required to Trigger § 2B3.1(b)(4)(B) Sentencing Enhancement, Disapproving Prior Holdings to the Contrary, by Douglas Ankney
20. New Hampshire Supreme Court: State’s Armed Career Criminal Statute Applies Only When Qualifying Convictions Arise From at Least 3 Separate Criminal Episodes, by Douglas Ankney
21. U.S. District Court Holds Residual Clause of Federal Three-Strikes Law Unconstitutional, by Dale Chappell
22. Genetic Testing Raises Privacy Concerns, by Bill Barton
23. Michigan Supreme Court: Reaching Out Door of Home to Retrieve ID Inadequate to Surrender Fourth Amendment Rights, by David Reutter
24. Tenth Circuit: No Absolute Immunity for Prosecutor Who Fabricated Evidence, by Douglas Ankney
25. The Power of Sheriffs: An Explainer, by Jessica Brand
26. Pitfalls of Using Risk Assessment Tools, by Jayson Hawkins
27. Eleventh Circuit Holds Time on Appeal Counts When Considering If Sentence Was Imposed Under Residual Clause, by Dale Chappell
28. Fourth Circuit Holds Appeal Waiver Does Not Preclude Retroactive ACCA Claim, by Anthony Accurso
29. Third Circuit Rules Lower Courts Abused Discretion When They Failed to Conduct Evidentiary Hearing on Brady Claim and on Conflict of Interest Claim, by Douglas Ankney
30. Whether State or Federal, Most Convictions Are Overwhelmingly Based on Guilty Pleas, by Edward Lyon
31. Minnesota Supreme Court: Even With a Warrant, Forced Anoscopy Is Unreasonable Search, by Douglas Ankney
32. 9th Circuit Finds IAC for Failure to Investigate Mitigating Factors During Penalty Phase of Capital Case, by Anthony Accurso
33. Oregon Supreme Court Announces State Constitution Prohibits Cops From Digging Through Residents’ Trash Without a Warrant, by Mark Wilson
34. SCOTUS Declares Portion of Federal Supervised Release Statute Unconstitutional, by Dale Chappell
35. Tracking Phones: Google as a Dragnet for the Police, by Bill Barton
36. Who Inflicts the Most Gun Violence in America? The U.S. Government and Its Police Forces, by John W. Whitehead
37. Partial Justice, 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:

• Ninth Circuit Refuses to Stay Injunction in Detainees’ Challenge to Conditions at California ICE Lockup, Oct. 1, 2026. GEO Group/Wackenhut, Sanitation, Injunctions, Fifth Amendment, Immigration Detention.
• Report Finds State Prison Systems Fail to Provide Adequate Assistance to Obtain Release Documentation, Oct. 1, 2026. Rehabilitation/Recidivism, Release and Reentry, jobs.
• Michigan Supreme Court Announces Two-Step Test for Mandatory LWOP Imposed for Pre-Aaron Felony Murder, Sept. 1, 2026. Life without Parole (LWOP), Sixth Amendment, Constitution, state, Cause and Prejudice, Elements of Offense.
• South Carolina Supreme Court Announces Formal Adoption of Fourth Circuit’s Three-Step Cheek Framework for Evaluating Improper Third-Party Contacts With Jurors Under Remmer, Reverses Murdaugh Murder Convictions, and Overrules Ethier Regarding Juror Testim, July 1, 2026. Sixth Amendment, New Trial/Judgment of Acquittal, Impartial Jury, Jury Deliberations, Juror Misconduct Issues.
• California Court of Appeal Announces Defendants Who Exercise Right to Jury Trial on Aggravating Circumstances Are Entitled to Closing Argument by Counsel on Those Factors, July 1, 2026. Sixth Amendment, Counsel - Constructive denial of, Possession or Use of Firearms, Sentences - Adjustments and Departures, Grounds for Relief.
• California Supreme Court Announces Amended § 1170(b) Applies Retroactively to Plea-Bargained Upper Term Sentences, July 1, 2026. Retroactivity, Sixth Amendment, Statutory Construction/Interpretation, Grounds For Withdrawal, Validity of.
• Eighth Circuit Dismisses Federal Prisoner’s Challenge to BOP Denying His Request for Expedited Transfer to Prerelease Custody, June 1, 2026. Release and Reentry, Habeas Corpus, First Step Act, Community Confinement/Home Detention, Credits.
• Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Holds Grand Jury No-Bill Terminated Sixth Amendment Right to Counsel, Clarifies Frye Exception, May 1, 2026. Sixth Amendment, Confessions - Admissibility, After Request for Counsel, Police Interrogations, Voluntary Nature/Voluntariness.
• D.C. Judge Blocks Transfer of Biden-Commuted Federal Death Row Prisoners to “Supermax,” Citing Lack of Meaningful Due Process, April 1, 2026. Transfers, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement, Fifth Amendment, Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Prison Classification.
• Montana Supreme Court Holds Defendant’s Sentence Must Be Vacated Where District Court Premised Sentence on Defendant’s Exercise of Constitutional Rights to Jury Trial, Silence, and Against Self-Incrimination, April 1, 2026. Fifth Amendment, Sixth Amendment, Self-Incrimination Clause, Right to Testify/Remain Silent, Acceptance of Responsibility.