More from this issue:

1. State Violence, Legitimacy, and the Path to True Public Safety, by David M. Kennedy
2. Floyd’s Family Might End Up Helping Pay Chauvin’s Retirement Benefits, by Kevin Bliss
3. How the Courts Are Using Compassionate Release to Fix Unfair Sentences, by Dale Chappell
4. Seventh Circuit: ‘Especially Compelling Justification’ Required for Same Maximum Sentence on Resentencing, by Dale Chappell
5. Seventh Circuit: Admissions to Pretrial Services Cannot Be Used to Prove Guilt, by Dale Chappell
6. The Warrior Cop Mindset, by Edward Lyon
7. SCOTUS: Counsel’s Failure to Uncover and Present Evidence in Mitigation at Capital Sentencing Requires Remand for Prejudice Determination, by Douglas Ankney
8. Indiana Supreme Court: Forcing Defendant to Unlock Smartphone Violates Fifth Amendment Right Against Self-Incrimination, by Douglas Ankney
9. California Supreme Court: ‘Honest and Upright Life’ Possible While in Custody for Expungement Purposes, by Anthony Accurso
10. Seventh Circuit Explains ‘Conduct That is Part of Common Scheme or Plan’ for Sentencing Purposes, by Douglas Ankney
11. Third Circuit: District Court Must Personally Address Defendant During Sentencing, by Douglas Ankney
12. Police Body Cams Are not a Cure-All, by Edward Lyon
13. Hawai’i Supreme Court Announces Police Officers May Not Testify That Driver Appeared Intoxicated, Overruling Toyomura, by Douglas Ankney
14. Activists Seek Accountability by Pushing NYC to Make Footage From Traffic Cams Available for Archiving, by Douglas Ankney
15. FBI Expands Ability to Surveil Social Media and Cellphone Location Data, by Douglas Ankney
16. SCOTUS Announces Large Portion of Oklahoma Remains Tribal Land in Which State Lacks Jurisdiction to Try Native Americans, by Douglas Ankney
17. California Court of Appeal Holds Canizales Decision Limiting Kill Zone Theory Applies Retroactively, by Matthew Clarke
18. Nationwide Police Misconduct Database Available to Public, by Kevin Bliss
19. Sixth Circuit: Prosecutor’s Improper Comments and Counsel’s Failure to Object Require New Trial, by Dale Chappell
20. Wrongfully Convicted Virginians Now Have Chance to Prove Innocence Due to Amendments to Writ of Actual Innocence, by Douglas Ankney
21. Second Circuit: Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act Applies on Per-Offender, not Per-Count Basis, by David Reutter
22. Fourth Circuit: Sentencing Procedurally Unreasonable Where Special Condition Not Explained and Mitigation Argument Not Addressed, by Matthew Clarke
23. Hawai’i Supreme Court: Showing Jury Video of Defendant Declining Officer’s Request to Reenact Crime Violates Right to Remain Silent, by Douglas Ankney
24. The Power of Filming Police, by Jayson Hawkins
25. Extending the Surveillance State During the Pandemic, by Anthony Accurso
26. Georgia Supreme Court: Counsel’s Failure to Inform Defendant of Absolute Right to Withdraw Plea Prior to Sentencing Ineffective Assistance, by David Reutter
27. Second Circuit Announces Categorical Approach Applies to State Convictions for Sentencing Enhancement Determination Under 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(B), by Matthew Clarke
28. Guard Your Digital Privacy to Keep Your Real Self Safe, by Anthony Accurso
29. Congress Unsure of Internet Data Collected by Government as PATRIOT Act Heads for Reauthorization, by Dale Chappell
30. What to Do if You’re Pepper-Sprayed, by Dale Chappell
31. After a Decade of Fighting, The Last Resort Exoneration Project Finally Frees Two Wrongfully Convicted of Murder, by Michael Fortino, Ph.D
32. Tenth Circuit Vacates Conviction, Rules Waiver of Trial Counsel Not Knowingly Made, by Dale Chappell
33. Colorado Supreme Court: Plea Proviso in § 18-1-409(1) Doesn’t Bar Appeal on Manner in Which Sentence Imposed, by David Reutter
34. Sixth Circuit Grants Habeas Relief for Defendant Shackled During Murder Trial Without On-the-Record Justification, by David Reutter
35. New York Police Continue Pattern of Arrests of Low-Level Crime During COVID-19 Crisis, by Derek Gilna
36. Report: Attorney Appointment a ‘Pay For Play’ Arrangement in Texas County, by Kevin Bliss
37. Hawai’i Supreme Court: Dog Sniff Unrelated to Initial Traffic Stop Requires Suppression of Evidence, by Dale Chappell
38. Hawai’i Supreme Court Announces Trial Courts Have Duty to Obtain Knowing and Voluntary Waiver of Penal-Responsibility Defense, by Douglas Ankney
39. Colorado Supreme Court Announces Framework for Distinguishing True Threat From Protected Speech Communicated Online, by Douglas Ankney
40. Tenth Circuit: Confession Involuntary Where FBI Agent Falsely Claimed to Be in Contact With Judge, and Defendant Could Shorten Sentence With Each Truthful Answer, by Douglas Ankney
41. Minn. Supreme Court Announces Rule for Analyzing Out-of-State Convictions for Public Safety Registry Requirement Purposes, by Anthony Accurso
42. Seventh Circuit Holds First Step Act Applies to All Crack Offenses ‘As a Whole,’ Regardless of Crack Amounts, by Dale Chappell
43. Kentucky Supreme Court: Trial Court’s Ex Parte Discussion With Juror About Offered Bribe Was Structural Error, by Douglas Ankney
44. Ban the Box not Applicable to COVID-19 Stimulus Aid, by Edward Lyon
45. Six eyewitnesses misidentified a murderer – here’s what went wrong in the lineup, by Laura Smalarz
46. Tear Gas: Soldiers Prohibited From Using It in Warfare but Cops Using It Against Peaceful Protesters, by Douglas Ankney
47. The Lunacy of Qualified Immunity, by Edward Lyon
48. I Cover Cops as an Investigative Reporter. Here Are Five Ways You Can Start Holding Your Department Accountable., by Andrew Ford
49. Problems With Predictive Policing, by Jayson Hawkins
50. News in Brief

More from Douglas Ankney:

• Beyond a Reasonable Doubt? Fingerprint Evidence’s Troubling Flaws, April 15, 2025
• Tenth Circuit Stretches PLRA to Deny Claim of Colorado Prisoner Shot by Guard While Shackled, April 1, 2025
• Fourth Circuit Excuses Maryland Prisoner From Exhaustion Requirement in PREA Claim, April 1, 2025
• Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Announces State Wiretap Statute Requires Suppression of Both Audio and Video Components of Audiovisual Footage of Unlawfully Intercepted Oral Communication Showing Defendant as Party to Communication, March 15, 2025
• California Court of Appeal Vacates Sentence Where Trial Court Imposed Sentence Under ‘One Strike’ Enhancement Statute Enacted After Crimes Were Committed, March 15, 2025
• Nevada Supreme Court: Theft Offenses and Possessing or Receiving Stolen Property Offenses Are Mutually Exclusive and Double Jeopardy Protections Bar Conviction for Both Offenses When Based on Same Conduct, March 15, 2025
• 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
• $100,000 Settlement Reached in New York Prisoner’s Solitary Confinement Suit, After Jury for First Time Finds Practice Violates Eighth Amendment, March 1, 2025
• Community Supervision: America’s Hidden Wellspring to Mass Incarceration, Feb. 15, 2025
• Rikers Island Continues Long Practice of Denying Education to Young Adults, Feb. 15, 2025

More from these topics:

• Federal Facial Recognition Technology Fails Again, Feb. 1, 2025. Computer Searches, Evidentiary Ruling, Forensic Sciences.
• Third Circuit Orders Evidentiary Hearing on State Prisoner’s Petition Seeking Federal Habeas Relief Because Both State and Federal Courts Denied Relief Without Holding Hearing on IAC Claim That, if Proven, Would Entitle Him to Relief, Aug. 1, 2024. Evidentiary Ruling, Habeas Corpus, Ineffective Assistance of Counsel, Counsel - Effective Assistance of.
• Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Affirms Trial Court’s Exclusion of Expert Testimony on iPhone’s Frequent Location History Data as Not Sufficiently Reliable Under Daubert-Lanigan Standard, June 15, 2024. Cell Site Location Information ("CSLI"), Opinions and Expert Testimony, Daubert Standards.
• $500,000 Jury Award Cut to $250,000 for Pennsylvania Prisoner Brutally Beaten by Guards, June 1, 2024. Guard Brutality/Beatings, Damages, Opinions and Expert Testimony.
• New Jersey Supreme Court Excludes CSLI Testimony Based on Agent’s ‘Rule Of Thumb’ Method for Determining Defendant’s Location, Feb. 15, 2024. Cell-Phone Location/Tracking Data, Application, Opinions and Expert Testimony, Expert and Opinion Testimony.
• One Solution to Jurors Giving Too Much Weight to Improper Forensic Testimony: 4-Minute Training Video Based on DOJ Guidelines, Jan. 15, 2024. Commentary/Reviews, Expert Witnesses, Opinions and Expert Testimony, Opinion on Ultimate Issue.
• Second Circuit Revives N.Y. Prisoner’s Suit Over Sing Sing Fire, 11 Other Prisoners Split $220,000 Settlement, Jan. 1, 2024. Failure to Protect (General), Fire Hazards, Administrative Exhaustion (PLRA), Summary Judgment, Evidentiary Ruling, Administrative Exhaustion.
• Federal Habeas Corpus: The Evidentiary Hearing for Federal Prisoners, April 15, 2023. Evidentiary Ruling, Habeas Corpus, Hearings.
• Police Find It Easier to Influence Public Opinion Than to Protect and Serve, Jan. 15, 2023. Police, Opinions and Expert Testimony.
• New York Court of Appeals Reverses Murder Conviction Where Trial Court’s Evidentiary Rulings Deprived Defendant of ‘Opportunity to Present Complete Defense’, Dec. 15, 2022. Evidentiary Ruling, Motive/Opportunity/Intent/Identity Evidence.