How to Take Your Postconviction Case Directly to the U.S. Supreme Court: A Roadmap to Direct Collateral Review by Dale Chappell by Dale Chappell For prisoners who have exhausted their state postconviction options, the path to relief in federal court is filled with obstacles. Many assume that the only option …

North Carolina Supreme Court Reverses Embezzlement Convictions for Failure to Hold Competency Hearing After Mid-Trial Suicide Attempt, Involuntary Commitment by Matthew Clarke by Matt Clarke The Supreme Court of North Carolina handed down an opinion dated December 18, 2020, reversing a woman’s three felony embezzlement convictions after determining that the …

Hawai’i Supreme Court Announces Clarification of When Self-Induced Intoxication Exception of HRS § 702-230 Applies by Matthew Clarke by Matt Clarke The Supreme Court of Hawai’i (SCH) held that a trial court erred when it ruled that the HRS § 702-230(1) prohibition against self-induced intoxication as a defense barred a …

Kentucky Supreme Court: Criminal Defendant Has Right to Independent Counsel During In-Chambers Hearing on Fitness of Defense Counsel by Matthew Clarke by Matt Clarke The Supreme Court of Kentucky held that a criminal defendant had the right to be informed of an in-chambers hearing on the fitness and ability of …