CAAF has issued an opinion in United States v. Bradford, a government appeal of a pretrial ruling. The appeal was on a military judge declination to pre-admit a Lab Package in a urinalysis case. AFCCA had no trouble saying that a declination to pre-admit evidence is appealable. CAAF had no…
Articles Posted in UCMJ
Major Hasan update
The Article 32, UCMJ, hearing has been rescheduled for 1 June 2010. KWTC.com reports.
Supreme Court “Miranda” cases
The court has decided Maryland v. Shatzer (background documents on SCOTUSWiki here ) and also Florida v. Powell (background documents on SCOTUSWiki here). Both cases relate to “Miranda” rights and confessions. In Powell, the issue was how much detail must go into a “Miranda” warning in order to be sufficient,…
Coast Guard appellate case of interest – and providency
Is a false marriage certificate to claim otherwise unauthorized allowances an official document? No, it would be the presentation of that document as showing an entitlement that is the false statement, not the marriage certificate itself. The court also found the appellant’s plea to a conspiracy to commit a false…
Up periscope WE210210
Pilot Online reports: Five sailors could offer testimony contradicting the government’s main witness in the controversial prosecution of three Navy SEALs accused of mistreating a suspected Iraqi terrorist. But whether they’ll take the stand is in question after the government denied their requests for immunity on Friday. As military justice…
Col Murphy retired at O-2 rank (corrected)
An Air Force colonel will be forced to retire as a first lieutenant, an Air Force review determined. Col. Michael D. Murphy, convicted in April 2009 by a general court-martial for failing to tell the Air Force he was disbarred as an attorney in 1984, will be retired from the…
Interesting ACCA case pending
In United States v. Willis, No. ARMY 20071339, which is being argued on Thursday, the issue is: “WHETHER THE PROSECUTION AGAINST APPELLANT WAS BARRED BY A GRANT OF DE FACTO IMMUNITY WHEN THE GOVERNMENT AGREED TO DISMISS CHARGES IF APPELLANT PASSED A POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION AND APPELLANT PASSED A POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION.”…
Concerned about alcohol abuse
The Navy’s largest overseas installation has seen a significant drop in incidents of drinking and driving over the last two years, thanks in part, to a persistent sobriety checkpoint program, according to base officials. Stars & Stripes reports. The answer to alcohol related incidents, including deaths, injury, and property damage…
Civilian jurisdiction
CAAFLog reports: Sens. Leahy and Kaufman and Rep. David Price introduced companion bills in the Senate and House titled the “Civilian Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act” (CEJA?), on Feb. 2, 2010. H.R. 4567 and S. 2979 create a new section 3272 in title 18.
Major Hasan update
[L]ate Friday afternoon, the Army said the hearing has been moved to June 1 in response to a defense request. KWTX.com reports. Although they still persist in referring the to Article 32, UCMJ, hearing as equivalent to a grand jury.