Peeking Behind the Plea Bargaining Process Laurie L. Levenson Loyola Law School Los Angeles December 11, 2012 Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review, Forthcoming Loyola-LA Legal Studies Paper No. 2012-49 Abstract: The Supreme Court’s rulings in Missouri v. Frye and Lafler v. Cooper, which recognized a defendant’s Sixth Amendment right…
Court-Martial Trial Practice Blog
More on providency and “sodomy”
The C. G. Ct. Crim. Apps. has issued an unpublished decision in United States v. Whitaker, in which it discusses whether: Appellant’s conviction under Article 125, UCMJ, for consensual sodomy should be dismissed because the military judge failed to discuss the corresponding liberty interest during the providence inquiry. The court…
More on eyewitness testimony reforms
I’ve posted already about the Oregon case – Oregon v. Lawson. Here is a piece from the excellent Concurring Opinions blog about eyewitness testimony. I would like to underscore Brandon’s point about reform efforts that are currently underway. While for the most part, the criminal justice process is stuck in…
“Jury” instructions
From time to time I find a need to ask for a special instruction or a rewording of a BB instruction. Here is a favorite, in BAH/TAD/TDY fraud cases: I have asked for (but not gotten) a “Consciousness of Innocence,” instruction in cases where there is evidence to support it…
Sentencing
Prof. Berman notes a unique “stale” murder/rape case in Illinois. Speaking of the Supreme Court, two recent rulings by the Justices, Gall and Pepper, made much of considering under federal sentencing law the positive post-offense behavior by a defendant. In this case, it seems the defendant was a model citizen…
Resources in forensics bias from a different perspective
I have mentioned this article before, Michael D. Risinger, Navigating Expert Reliability: Are Criminal Standards of Certainty Being Left in the Dock?, 64 ALBANY L. REV. 99 (2000). The basic theme: This article shows that, as to proffers of asserted expert testimony, civil defendants win their Daubert reliability challenges to…
Checking it twice
Many years ago we sought to improve our counsel performance at NLSO Norfolk with developing checklists, protocols, and a PQS system. It seemed to work. Now here is an article, Darryl K. Brown, Defense Counsel, Trial Judges, and Evidence Protocols, Brown, Darryl K., Defense Counsel, Trial Judges, and Evidence Protocols,…
The Canadian example
The Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals is tragically behind in timely action on pending and future court-martial appeals. The military appellate courts, so far have declined to take action to release an appellant pending appeal. The Canadians set a the example. A Standing Court Martial today sentenced Captain Daniel…
Can you tape the boss
Maybe. It depends on state law – one party, all party permission; are you in a SCIF; or are you and the activity covered by 18 U. S. Code 2511?
Clearances go purple?
Transition of the Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office (DISCO) to the Department of Defense Central Adjudicative Facility (CAF) Effective Oct. 27, 2012, the Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office (DISCO) will migrate to the DOD CAF [Central Adjudication Facility]. As a result of this migration a new version of the Joint…