More from this issue:

1. Your DNA Was at the Scene, But You Weren’t: How Touch DNA Is Convicting the Innocent, by Richard Resch
2. 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, by David M. Reutter
3. Second Circuit Clarifies Limits on Sentencing Court’s Use of Unrelated Co-Defendant Conduct as § 3553(a) “Context”, by David Kim
4. Florida Supreme Court Announces “Results” of Postconviction DNA Testing Under § 925.11 Include Underlying Testing Data Necessary for Expert Analysis, Holding That No Additional Burden Applies Once a Motion for Testing Has Been Granted, by David M. Reutter
5. U.S. Sentencing Commission: 2026 Amendments to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, by Richard Resch
6. Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Calling Known Recalcitrant Witness Before Jury Constitutes Reversible Error and Prosecutorial Misconduct Regardless of Whether Witness Expressly Invokes Fifth Amendment Privilege, Qualifying Contrary Precedent, by David M. Reutter
7. Fifth Circuit Announces Enhanced Supervised Release Provision Under 18 U.S.C. § 3583(k) Does Not Apply to Assimilative Crimes Act Offenses, Limiting Statutory Maximum to Five Years Under § 3583(b), by Douglas Ankney
8. California Court of Appeal: Vehicle Impoundment Solely to Prevent Further Unlicensed Driving Does Not Satisfy Fourth Amendment’s Community Caretaking Exception; Statutory Authorization Alone Insufficient to Establish Constitutional Reasonableness, by Douglas Ankney
9. Ninth Circuit Announces Remmer Presumption of Prejudice Governs When Racially Biased Juror Participates in Deliberations but Is Excused Before Trial Court Accepts Verdict, by David Kim
10. Sixth Circuit Announces Predetermining a Supervisee’s Revocation Term of Imprisonment at an Earlier Violation Hearing Renders the Resulting Sentence Both Procedurally and Substantively Unreasonable, by Douglas Ankney
11. Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Announces Totality-of-the-Circumstances Framework for Evaluating Delayed Traffic Stops Under Article 14, Holding 24-Hour Gap Between Observed Infraction and Vehicle Stop Was Unreasonable, by Douglas Ankney
12. California Supreme Court Announces Failure to Challenge Ambiguous Jury Instructions on Imputed Malice in a Prior Direct Appeal Does Not Categorically Bar Resentencing Relief Under Penal Code § 1172.6, by David Kim
13. South Carolina Supreme Court Announces Penile Plethysmograph Results Are Inadmissible Until Underlying Science Becomes Standardized, Affirming Reversal of Sexually Violent Predator Commitment, by David Kim
14. Fourth Circuit Announces ICE’s Execution of a Removal Warrant Following a Final Removal Order Does Not Constitute a “Pending Proceeding” Under 18 U.S.C. § 1505, Vacating Noncitizen’s Obstruction Conviction in Issue of First Impression, by Douglas Ankney
15. SCOTUS Announces Sentencing Disparities Created by Nonretroactive Statutory Amendments Cannot Constitute Extraordinary and Compelling Reasons for Compassionate Release, by Richard Resch
16. The Constitution for Sale: FBI Confirms Resumption of Data Broker Dragnets, by Jo Ellen Nott
17. NEWS IN BRIEF

More from David M. Reutter:

• Class Action Certified in Lawsuit Alleging Raw Sewage Presence in Washington Jail, Oct. 1, 2026
• South Carolina Supreme Court Reverses Class Action Status in Prisoners’ Sexual Assault Lawsuit, Oct. 1, 2026
• Second Circuit Rules Eighth Amendment Governs Claims of Excessive Force Brought by Parole Violator, Oct. 1, 2026
• Sixth Circuit: Qualified Immunity Granted to Guard in Delayed Treatment for Prisoner who Suffered Heart Attack, Oct. 1, 2026
• New Mexico Supreme Court Announces Reasons-for-Delay Analysis Must Assess State’s Own Responsibility Rather Than Compare Parties’ Delay and Abrogates Precedent Employing Party-to-Party Offsets, Oct. 1, 2026
• Report Finds State Prison Systems Fail to Provide Adequate Assistance to Obtain Release Documentation, Oct. 1, 2026
• Eleventh Circuit Affirms Refusal to Expand Bivens to Claim Alleging Federal Prisoner Died from Denial of Treatment for Hepatitis C, Oct. 1, 2026
• Ninth Circuit Reverses Dismissal of Prisoner’s ADA Complaint Alleging Denial of Toileting and Hygiene Services, Oct. 1, 2026
• Virginia Report Finds Deaths Increasing as Prison Population Ages, Oct. 1, 2026
• Sixth Circuit Holds Kentucky Deficient-Counsel Belated-Appeal Procedure Tolls Federal Habeas One-Year Limitations Period, Sept. 1, 2026

More from these topics:

• 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. Different Judge, Statement of Reasons, Plain Error, Reasonableness of Sentence, Self-Incrimination Clause.
• Ninth Circuit Reverses Convictions, Holding Requirement That Defendant Testify Before Displaying Hand Tattoos Violates Fifth Amendment, Sept. 1, 2026. Self-Incrimination Clause, Plain/Harmless Error, Right to Testify/Remain Silent.
• Michigan Appeals Court: Witnesses Cannot be Forced to Wear Jail Clothes at Trial, Aug. 1, 2026. Interlocutory Appeals, Prejudice - Potential for Undue, Fair Trial, Witnesses - Examination of, Criminal Records.
• Abuse is No Excuse: Oklahoma’s Judges Deny Sentencing Relief to Prisoners Who Were Raped and Physically Assaulted, Aug. 1, 2026. State Legislation, Domestic Violence, Prosecutorial Misconduct, Sentences - Adjustments and Departures, Reduction of Sentence.
• Oregon Supreme Court Announces Witness Competency Under OEC 601 Depends on General Capacity to Be a Witness, Not Ability to Recall a Specific Fact, July 1, 2026. Evidence - Integrity/Reliability of, Expert and Opinion Testimony, Competency, Scientific Testimony or Evidence, Witnesses - Examination of.
• 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.
• Texas Prisoner Declared Innocent 70 Years After Execution, March 1, 2026. Racial Discrimination, Death Penalty, False Confessions, Eyewitness Identification, Prosecutorial Misconduct.
• Hawaii Supreme Court Announces State Constitution Requires Law Enforcement to Record All Custodial Interrogations, Overruling Three-Decade-Old Precedent and Recognizing New Due Process Right, March 1, 2026. Constitution, state, Confrontation Clause/Rights, Self-Incrimination Clause, Custodial Interrogations, Video Recordings.
• Second Circuit Holds Exclusion of Evidence Corroborating Defendant’s Testimony About Third-Party Statements Bearing on Intent Was Error, Clarifying That Rule 404(b) Does Not Bar Non-Propensity Evidence Offered to Support Credibility, March 1, 2026. Evidentiary Claims, Abuse of Discretion Standard, Motive/Opportunity/Intent/Identity Evidence, Character/Reputation/Propensity, Plain/Harmless Error.
• Washington Supreme Court Announces Race and Ethnicity Are Relevant Factors Courts May Consider When Applying the Totality of the Circumstances Test for Determining Whether Suspect Is “In Custody” for Miranda Purposes, Feb. 1, 2026. Community Caretaking Exception/Doctrine, Traffic Stops, Self-Incrimination Clause, Custodial Interrogations, In Custody.