it almost always does – if the error was harmless. federal evidence review blog brings a reminder as follows: What are the limits in which a trial court may examine witnesses under FRE 614? The Third Circuit recently assessed the boundaries of a judge’s questioning of witnesses in a case involving…
Court-Martial Trial Practice Blog
State dependent
Intriguing. Does military search and seizure depend upon and have to follow state law, even if it is a “federal” officer doing the searching and seizing? This Article argues for a model of the Fourth Amendment – the contingent Fourth Amendment – that courts and commentators have overlooked. It asserts…
A cautionary tale
The ever sentient Prof. Colin Miller brings us a good reminder to be careful, at his evidence prof blog. Federal Rule of Evidence 410(a)(4) states as follows: (a) Prohibited Uses. In a civil or criminal case, evidence of the following is not admissible against the defendant who made the plea or participated in…
On the confrontation front
Article 10, UCMJ, may be dead. But there is still activity on the Sixth Amendment confrontation front. Here’s an interesting case dredged up by federal evidence review blog about a 40 year old affidavit and its treatment under the Sixth. Fifth Circuit reverses conviction after the government failed to meet…
Tool box update
I was reminded the other day when working on an appellate case of a toolbox item worth the read. I often review TJAGSA teaching materials when working on a case. I used to also look at NJS materials, but for some reason they are no longer available to the general…
The SVC said it
People have been all over the place in terms of like or dislike for the new SVC system the military is putting in place for sexual assault cases. Frankly, most of what the system is doing doesn’t trouble me. I’ve been more concerned with how it works in practice so…
More from King Hercules
Back when I was a Magistrate Judge between 1987 and 1992, many federal prosecutors followed an “open file” policy. That is, the defense lawyer got access to the complete investigative file–everything the prosecutor had–except for legal research and the prosecutor’s outgoing correspondence. The defense lawyer was able to copy whatever…
There is an epidemic of Brady violations abroad in the land. Only judges can put a stop to it.
Judge Kopf at Hercules and the Umpire, someone you should follow, references this case in regard to “the most interesting man in the world.” See United States v. Olsen.
Center for Prosecutor Integrity
Center for Prosecutor Integrity. An Epidemic of Prosecutor Misconduct. Prosecutor Ethics in Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Cases
Grab a headline
How do you get attention, you say: Two-Thirds Of Military Supreme Court Cases Are About CP Perhaps a little known reality is the overwhelming flow of CP appeals into the docket of the U.S. military’s highest appellate court. About two-thirds of the docket in the U.S. Court of Appeals for…