United States v. Vick, ACCA 2019. Prosecutors and convening authorities require an accused to plead guilty to charges which the accused is not provident, but it’s a take it or leave it deal and the accused dutifully complies, only to have the whole process go awry. Is Vick such a…
Court-Martial Trial Practice Blog
Another in the you don’t want to start reading the CCA’s evaluation of your case this way series
Appellant argues his trial defense team was ineffective. Appellant’s argument involves mistaken identity, fraternal betrayal, technological mystery, and a healthy dose of bad luck. The argument is ambitious and engaging, it is also wrong. United States v. Carter, ACCA 2019.
You don’t want to start reading the CCA’s evaluation of your case this way
As will be seen, this court-martial was a mess on several levels. Before discussing the facts surrounding appellant’s offenses, we are required to determine which specifications now remain before this court. See United States v. Solomon, ACCA 2019.
Worth the Read
A case to look out for. United States v. Frost, No. 18-0362/AR Issue: Whether the military judge erred in admitting hearsay statements as prior consistent statements under Mil.R.Evid. 801(d)(1)(B)(i) where the defense theory posited the improper influence or motive preceded the allegedly consistent statements. Case Links: • ACCA opinion • Appellant’s brief…
AMRDEC is back–possibly still a temporary access
This is a banner on the NMPC web page. NOTE: AMRDEC Safe has been reestablished to submit encrypted correspondence for a limited time awaiting fielding of a permanent solution. For further information, contact MyNavy Career Center (MNCC).
New cases of interest
Here is a link to a few cases of interest that were provided me last week at the 49th VACLE Criminal Law seminar. Virginia is in the Fourth Circuit which, I believe, has a reputation as slightly conservative leaning. United States v. Abdallah, ___ F.3d___ (4th Cir. 18 December 2018). Code…
How did this happen? — well, it’s a sexual assault case.
Appellant challenges the factual sufficiency of his conviction for sexually assaulting MB. We have reviewed the evidence, which includes a video-recording of appellant’s sexual encounter with MB. The video-recording demonstrates that MB repeatedly gave audible consent—or at least what reasonably appears to be audible consent—to sexual intercourse with appellant. Considering this evidence, we…
Collateral consequences
Thanks to Prof. Berman at Sentencing Law 7 Policy who directs us to Murray, Brian, Are Collateral Consequences Deserved? (January 29, 2019). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract= I have a standard sex offender registration motion that I use in all cases in which a sex offense is charged and if convicted the client…
New Navy FOIA regulation
SECNAVINST 5720.42G, 15 January 2019.
Interesting reminder to understand pretrial agreement terms
On appeal, Appellant asserts three assignments of error: (1) whether Appellant is entitled to sentence relief due to the conditions of her post-trial confinement; (2) whether Appellant is entitled to relief because the Staff Judge Advocate’s Recommendation (SJAR) failed to address alleged legal errors; and (3) whether the approved sentence…