Latest Criminal Law News
The search for just sentences in Canada's courts
But people also think the James sentence demonstrates that the justice system is far too soft. And that is wrong. Why? Because for the James sentence to say something about criminal justice in general it can't be an aberration. It has to be typical.
Updated: 03/21/2012 06:07P
Sixth Amendment Right to Counsel Reflected in New Supreme Court Plea Bargain
From now on, criminal defense lawyers are required by law to inform their clients of plea bargain offers, regardless of whether they think the client should accept them, and must provide their clients with sound advice on whether to accept a plea
Updated: 03/21/2012 06:03P
USDOJ: Justice and Interior Departments Launch National Criminal Justice
The Justice and Interior Departments today completed the first in a series of national level training courses, “Criminal Jurisdiction in Indian Country” (CJIC), designed to strengthen the ability of tribal and local law enforcement to participate in
Updated: 03/21/2012 06:03P
Stand Your Ground law enables profiling
George P. Fletcher, one of the leading criminal law scholars in the United States and the Cardozo Professor of Jurisprudence at Columbia University Law School, also argues that “racial fears invariably infuse routine judgments in American society about
Updated: 03/21/2012 06:02P
Six Sentenced for Watching Arab Spring Video
Antoinette Choto, Edson Chakuma, Welcome Zimuto, and Tatenda Mombeyarara - of conspiracy to commit public violence under section 188 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
Updated: 03/21/2012 05:46P
Egypt 6 Given Fine and Community Service
service - as well as two-year jail terms suspended for five years - after they were farcically convicted of conspiracy to commit public violence in violation of section 188 of Zimbabwe's Criminal Code - for watching videos of the Arab Spring.
Updated: 03/21/2012 05:46P
Supreme Court Will Not Review Ruling Upholding Federal Arrestee DNA Law
ES/ — This week the US Supreme Court refused to hear a challenge to a federal law requiring DNA collection for criminal arrests occurring under federal authority (US v. Mitchell). In denying the petition for review, the Supreme Court allows the Third
Updated: 03/21/2012 05:46P
High Court Throws Out 'Bad Lawyer' Convictions
The reality is that for the most part, criminal justice today is "a system of pleas," said Justice Anthony Kennedy on behalf of the court majority. Ninety-five percent of all convictions are the result of plea bargains, not trials, and the right to
Updated: 03/21/2012 05:40P
SCOTUS Says Defendants Have a Right to Effective Counsel in Deciding Whether
Speaking from the bench for the four dissenters, Justice Antonin Scalia worried that "today's opinions open a whole new field of constitutionalized criminal procedure: federal plea-bargaining law." Dissenting in Lafler, he elaborated on his concerns:
Updated: 03/21/2012 05:12P
High Court Expands Defendants' Plea Bargain Rights
It is not some adjunct to the criminal justice system. It is the criminal justice system," Kennedy said. The court then went on to fashion a remedy, telling the lower courts that consistent with state law, defendants should get a second chance to
Updated: 03/21/2012 05:06P
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