Illinois Supreme Court Announces Conviction for Attempted First Degree Murder Requires ‘Intent to Kill Without Lawful Justification by Jeffrey Cohen The Supreme Court of Illinois held that a conviction for attempted first degree murder requires proof that the defendant acted with the intent to kill without lawful justification, rejecting the …

Kentucky Supreme Court Clarifies When Lesser-Included Offense Instruction Must Be Provided, Reverses Convictions Based on Trial Court’s Failure to Properly Instruct Jury by Matthew Clarke by Matt Clarke The Supreme Court of Kentucky reversed convictions for first-degree wanton endangerment (“FDWE”) and first-degree persistent felony offender, holding that the trial court …

COVID-19 Measures Do Not Interfere with Jurors’ Ability to Distinguish Between Truth and Lies by Casey Bastian by Casey J. Bastian As a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic, health and safety preventative measures have impacted nearly every area of our society. Experts were concerned about what impact, if any, …

California Court of Appeal Orders New Trial Due to Jurors Considering Potential Penalty During Guilt Phase of Deliberations by Douglas Ankney by Douglas Ankney The Court of Appeal of California, Third Appellate District, reversed a trial court’s denial of a motion for a new trial, ruling that jurors committed misconduct …

Wyoming Supreme Court: District Court Abused Discretion by Granting State’s Dismissal of Charges Without Prejudice and Refiling to Gain Tactical Advantage, Remands for Dismissal With Prejudice by Douglas Ankney by Douglas Ankney The Supreme Court of Wyoming ruled that a district court abused its discretion when it dismissed without prejudice …

Kansas Supreme Court Reverses Conviction Where Trial Court Refused to Give Self-Defense Instruction by Douglas Ankney by Douglas Ankney The Supreme Court of Kansas reversed Michael Alan Keyes’ murder conviction because the district court refused to give his requested self-defense instruction. Keyes was tried for the murder of Jimmy Martin. …

Georgia Supreme Court Reverses Dismissal of Second State Habeas Petition by Douglas Ankney by Douglas Ankney The Supreme Court of Georgia reversed the Walker County Superior Court’s dismissal of Joseph Samuel Watkins’ second petition for writ of habeas corpus. Watkins was convicted in 2001 of felony murder, and his conviction …