More from this issue:

1. The Inevitability of Central Bank Digital Currencies and Their Threat to Human Rights, by Anthony Accurso
2. SCOTUS Announces ‘Right-to-Control’ Theory Not Valid Basis for Liability Under Federal Wire Fraud Statutes, by Richard Resch
3. Texas Court of Criminal Appeals: Trial Court Deprived Defendant of Opportunity to Present Complete Defense, by Douglas Ankney
4. SCOTUS: Honest-Services Fraud Jury Instructions Regarding Private Citizen Too Vague, by Richard Resch
5. New Commission in Georgia Will Discipline and Remove Prosecutors Who Are Seen as Not Tough Enough on Crime, by Jo Ellen Nott
6. Fifth Circuit: Placing Jacket Within Fenced-In Area of Home in Presence of Police Evidences Clear Intent Not to Abandon It, Warrantless Search Violates Fourth Amendment Rights, by Richard Resch
7. California Court of Appeal Reiterates ‘Three Strikes’ Law Does Not Limit ‘Presentence’ Custody Credits, Defendant Entitled to Credits Calculated Under Penal Code § 4019, by Douglas Ankney
8. Ninth Circuit: Government’s Inflammatory Arguments in Sentencing Memorandum and at Sentencing Hearing Implicitly Breached Plea Agreement Promise Not to Recommend Sentence in Excess of Low-End Guidelines Range, by Douglas Ankney
9. Georgia Supreme Court Announces Overruling Longstanding Rule That Anything Filed by Defendant While Represented by Counsel Is Always a ‘Legal Nullity’, by Douglas Ankney
10. Fourth Circuit: Denial of Motion for Compassionate Release Abuse of Discretion Where District Court Failed to Properly Address Numerous Health Issues, Advanced Age, and Relevant § 3553(a) Factors, by Douglas Ankney
11. Fourth Circuit Declines to Enforce Appeal Waiver and Procedural Default Excused by ‘Cause and Actual Prejudice,’ Reverses Denial of § 2255 Motion to Vacate § 924(c) Conviction Based on Hobbs Act Conspiracy, by Douglas Ankney
12. Saul Kassin Probes Dangerous Practices in ‘Duped: Why Innocent People Confess-and Why We Believe Their Confessions’, by James Doyle
13. Fourth Circuit: Counsel Ineffective for Failing to Raise Change in Sentencing Precedent Following Remand, by David Reutter
14. Fourth Circuit Holds Ineligibility for First Step Act Safety Valve Relief Requires Proof of All Three Listed Criminal History Characteristics Satisfied, Widening Circuit Split, by David Reutter
15. First Circuit: Plain Error Where District Court Based Upward Variant From Sentencing Guidelines Range on New Information Not Already in the Record at the Time of Sentencing, by Douglas Ankney
16. Indiana Supreme Court: Petitioner Entitled to File Belated Appeal More Than 21 Years After Conviction, Holding He Acted ‘Promptly’, by Douglas Ankney
17. Fourth Circuit Announces Rehaif Applies to All § 922(g) Firearms-Possession Offenses and Applies Retroactively to Initial § 2255 Motions, by Douglas Ankney
18. Arkansas Supreme Court Reverses 11 Counts of Possession of Child Pornography Because CGI Images Do Not Depict Image of a Child, by Douglas Ankney
19. Specialized Police Units Hunt People for ICE, by Keith Sanders
20. Banishment: Using an Ancient Solution to Address a Modern Problem, by Benjamin Tschirhart
21. Police Can Get More From Your Phone Than You May Believe, by Michael Thompson
22. Cops Aren’t Just Murdering People With Impunity – They Also Conduct Bogus Traffic Stops, by Anthony Accurso
23. Civilian Police With Military Equipment, by Edward Lyon
24. Inspector General Report: FBI Routinely Abused Access to Private Communications, by Eike Blohm, MD
25. New Orleans Authorizes Facial Recognition to Identity Suspects, by Michael Thompson
26. Financial Pressure Finally Brings Police Reform, by Jayson Hawkins
27. The ACLU Calls for a Moratorium on Blanket Recording of ALPR Footage, by Kevin Bliss
28. Police Sketch Bot Arrives, by Carlo Difundo
29. Police Study Shows That Reform and Effectiveness Are Not Mutually Exclusive, by Benjamin Tschirhart
30. ‘Contagion Effect’ Spreads Brutality Among Police Officers, by Eike Blohm, MD
31. America’s Latest “War on” … Protestors, by Casey Bastian
32. Memphis Police Beat Man to Death, by Kevin Bliss
33. Minnesota Abolishes Life Without Parole for Juveniles, by Jordan Arizmendi
34. Louisiana Jury Selection Illegal According to Recently Passed Bill, by Kevin Bliss
35. News in Brief

More from Douglas Ankney:

• The Dramatic Increase in the Elderly Prison Population Is Fiscally and Morally Irresponsible, Oct. 1, 2026
• Second Circuit Affirms Denial of Qualified Immunity but Clarifies that 14th Amendment ‘Objective Reasonableness’ Is Standard of Review for Pretrial Detainee’s Claim of Sexual Abuse, Oct. 1, 2026
• California Supreme Court Announces Totality-of-Circumstances Framework Focused on Defendant’s Subjective Understanding Under § 1473.7(a)(1), Holding Immigration Consequences Advisement Is Relevant but Not Dispositive, Oct. 1, 2026
• Idaho Supreme Court Holds Conflicting Affidavits About Plea Acceptance Require Evidentiary Hearing on Ineffective-Assistance Claim, Oct. 1, 2026
• Tenth Circuit Vacates Award of Costs to Prison Officials, Revives Prisoner’s Claim Alleging Denial of Access to Functioning Toilets and Exposure to Other Prisoners’ Feces, Oct. 1, 2026
• Second Circuit Vacates Above-Guidelines Firearm-Trafficking Sentence Based on Failure to Assist Law Enforcement and Unexplained Reliance on Factors Already Included in Guidelines Range, Sept. 1, 2026
• Ninth Circuit Reverses Convictions, Holding Requirement That Defendant Testify Before Displaying Hand Tattoos Violates Fifth Amendment, Sept. 1, 2026
• Ohio Supreme Court Announces Postconviction DNA-Testing Orders Need Only Identify Statutory Reason to Satisfy R.C. 2953.73(D) “Reasons” Requirement, Sept. 1, 2026
• Federal Court Upholds Consultants’ Finding that Oklahoma Is Not Honoring Its Consent Decree to Provide Mental Health Treatment, Sept. 1, 2026
• Idaho Legislature Moves to Hide Execution Protocol from Judicial Scrutiny, Sept. 1, 2026

More from these topics:

• California Supreme Court Announces Totality-of-Circumstances Framework Focused on Defendant’s Subjective Understanding Under § 1473.7(a)(1), Holding Immigration Consequences Advisement Is Relevant but Not Dispositive, Oct. 1, 2026. Deportation/Removal/Exclusion, Awareness of Consequences, Knowingly and Voluntarily Made, Grounds For Withdrawal.
• SCOTUS Announces Appeal Waivers in Plea Agreements Unenforceable When Enforcement Would Produce a Miscarriage of Justice, Adopting Majority Circuit Approach, July 1, 2026. Involuntary Treatment/Drugging, Knowingly and Intelligently, Preservation of Appellate Rights/Issues, Special Conditions, Knowingly and Voluntarily Made, Validity of.
• Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia Announces Six-Factor Test for Evaluating Presentence Motions to Withdraw Guilty Pleas Under Rule 32(e), Holds Binding Plea Agreement Does Not Extinguish Defendant’s Ability to Seek Withdrawal, July 1, 2026. Knowingly and Voluntarily Made, Withdrawal, Grounds For Withdrawal, Acceptance/Rejection by the Court, Validity of.
• 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.
• Minnesota Supreme Court Announces Heightened Voluntariness Inquiry Required for Contingent Guilty Pleas and Holds Plea Withdrawal Is the Proper Remedy When District Court Fails to Probe Coercion Risk, June 1, 2026. Failure to Object, Knowingly and Voluntarily Made, Grounds For Withdrawal, Acceptance/Rejection by the Court.
• Colorado Limits the Use of Faulty Field Drug Tests, May 1, 2026. Forensic Sciences, Drugs - Determination of, Evidence - Integrity/Reliability of, Drug Laws/Offenses, Knowingly and Voluntarily Made.
• Washington State Guard’s Conviction Affirmed in Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound Scheme, March 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Conspiracies, Attempts, Solicitations, False Statements/Perjury, Possession or Use of Firearms, Abuse of Position of Trust.
• California Court of Appeal: Trial Courts Have Inherent Authority to Correct Unauthorized Sentences at Any Time Without Habeas Petition, Jan. 1, 2026. Habeas Corpus, Possession or Use of Firearms, Sentences - Authorized, Sentences - Corrections or Modifications of, Effect of Vacatur.
• Ninth Circuit Remands California Prisoner’s Case in which No Contest Plea Was Admitted as Evidence of Guilt, Dec. 1, 2025. 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights, Favorable Disposition, Evidence - Admissibility, Admissions, Knowingly and Voluntarily Made.
• California Court of Appeal Reverses Superior Court’s Denial of Motion to Vacate Conviction Where Defendant Established His Failure to Understand the Immigration Consequences of Plea, Oct. 15, 2025. Mental Health, Failure to Address/Advise Defendant, Aggravated Felony, Asylum, Knowingly and Voluntarily Made.