This report makes two key findings: • There is not a systemic problem with the initial disposition authority’s decision either to prefer a penetrative sexual offense charge or to take no action against the subject for that offense. In 94.0% and 98.5% of cases reviewed, respectively, those decisions were reasonable.…
Court-Martial Trial Practice Blog
Rules of Court and Stuff
Military Court Rules of the United States: Procedure, Citation, Professional Responsibility, Civility, and Judicial Conduct: Military Court Rules of the United States presents a collection of the military justice system’s court rules, in a single volume. https://store.lexisnexis.com/products/military-court-rules-of-the-united-states-procedure-citation-professional-responsibility-civility-and-judicial-conduct-skuusSku18865085 I do NOT receive anything from Lexis, nor do the others listed.
An interesting CAAF remand
The Court remanded United States v. Cabrera to NMCCA for additional review based on claims that the military judge should have been recused and that trial and appellate defense counsel were IAC for not raising that at trial or before NMCCA. The initial NMCCA opinion. In that opinion the only…
Federal laws impacting the use of the military during interesting times
18 U.S.C. § 1385—Posse Comitatus Act. Whoever, except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress, willfully uses any part of the Army or the Air Force as a posse comitatus or otherwise to execute the laws shall be fined under this title or imprisoned…
Lorrance v. Commandant USDB
Lorrance v. Commandant. This matter is a petition for habeas corpus filed under 28 U.S.C. § 2241, challenging Petitioner’s conviction by general court-martial. At the time of filing, Petitioner was confined at the United States Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. This matter is before the Court on Respondent’s Motion…
Prior complaints in sexual assault cases.
At least in the courtroom, we act hastily when we conclude that the decisions of prosecutors and jurors can be based on presumptively believing sexual assault complainants. On the contrary, the presumption of innocence and the government’s burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt in all criminal cases remind us…
Worth the Read–a case of parole.
There is a report of SGT Hatley being released from prison after 11 years confinement. The ACCA’s 2011 opinion is here. An enlisted panel sitting as a general court-martial convicted appellant, contrary to his pleas, of conspiracy to commit premeditated murder and premeditated murder, in violation of Articles 81 and…
The Orders Project
Wrestling with Legal and Illegal Orders in the Military in the Months Ahead The Orders Project website is here along with a Sourcebook.
Federal laws prohibiting military actions around elections
18 U.S.C. § 1385—Posse Comitatus Act. Whoever, except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress, willfully uses any part of the Army or the Air Force as a posse comitatus or otherwise to execute the laws shall be fined under this title or imprisoned…
How useful is SOR?
A local paper has this, Law enforcement officials and researchers caution that the registries play a limited role in preventing child sexual abuse and stress that most perpetrators are known to the child. The U.S. Department of Justice, which oversees the National Sex Offender Public Website, estimates that only about 10…