WFAA.com reports that: Fort Hood shooting suspect Maj. Nidal Hasan’s attorney tells News 8 he will ask a military judge Thursday morning to close the upcoming Article 32 Hearing for his client to the public and press. “I think it’s necessary to ensure he can eventually get a fair trial…
Court-Martial Trial Practice Blog
AFCCA denies a new trial
The Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals has issued an opinion in United States v. Hull. The issues on appeal are: whether the staff judge advocate (SJA) erred by advising the convening authority (CA), pursuant to Rule for Courts-Martial (R.C.M.) 1106, that no new trial was warranted and whether the…
ACCA on post-trial honorable discharges
Here is a link to United States v. Brasington., decided 13 September 2010. It is not unusual for an appellant to be issued a DD214, Honorable Discharge, sometime after a court-martial at which the appellant was adjudged a punitive discharge. In this case, we are asked, following remand, whether an…
Padilla in practice
Here is a training video and handouts from NACDL. This may be helpful with your junior enlisted court-martial clients who are foreign nationals. In Padilla v. Kentucky, the Supreme Court held that defense lawyers must affirmatively and correctly advise their clients about the immigration consequences of entering a plea and…
LTC Lakin sitrep
This is the 12th day that APF (safeguardourconstitution), LTC Lakin’s support site, has failed to post the military judge’s findings and conclusions, and advertises as “Breaking News,” “Judge to Rules (sic) . . ..” The Post & Email reports today, submitted by Maj. Gen. Vallely: The current Lakin defense strategy…
Urinalysis cases
In two days CAAF has granted two urinalysis cases citing to Melendez-Diaz. Note Blazier is still undecided. In the Air Force case the defense did not object, in the Navy case the defense did object. No. 10-0668/AF. U.S. v. Jerrod D. NUTT. CCA S31600. Review granted on the following issues:…
False confessions
New York Times has this good short piece about false confessions. New research shows how people who were apparently uninvolved in a crime could provide such a detailed account of what occurred, allowing prosecutors to claim that only the defendant could have committed the crime. An article by Professor Garrett…
Up periscope
This is the 12th day that APF, LTC Lakin’s support site, has failed to post the military judge’s findings and conclusions, and advertises as “Breaking News,” “Judge to Rules (sic) . . ..” SFExaminer.com reports: A Fort Stewart soldier charged with killing two members of his Army unit in 2008…
Wuterich sitrep
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports: A major Iraqi war crimes case that has dragged on for five years hit another snag Monday when a military judge excused one of the attorneys for a Marine sergeant whose squad was charged with killing 24 Iraqis. The move by military judge Lt. Col. David…
Shipboard privacy a la computers
Thanks the CAAFLog here is a link to the new Naval Law Review and an article about . I had just such a case last week. Here is a link to the JER provisions that are applicable. Here is a link to the current form that all naval service users…