The Myth of the Presumption of Innocence
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Municipal Court Trial Procedures
Municipal Court 4) The right to cross-examine witnesses Trial Procedures admitted during the trial must remain as who testify against you; If you choose to have the case tried before part of the court’s file; therefore, Trial Procedures: 5) The right to testify on your own a jury, you have the right to question jurors documents or photographs contained on a behalf; about their qualifications to hear your case. flash drive, cell phone, tablet, laptop or Roanoke Municipal Court of Record other media may not be admissible. 6) The right not to testify (Your refusal If you think that a juror will not be fair, Purpose to do so may not be held against you impartial, or unbiased, you may ask the After all testimony is concluded, both sides judge to excuse the juror. You are also can make a closing argument. This is your This pamphlet is designed to provide in determining your innocence or permitted to strike three members of the opportunity to summarize the evidence, basic information about criminal guilt.); and jury panel for any reason you choose, present your theory of the case, argue why proceedings in the Northeast municipal 7) You may call witnesses to testify on court. It is not a substitute for legal advice except a strike based solely upon race or the State has failed to meet its burden of your behalf at the trial, and have the gender. proof, and make other arguments allowed from an attorney. You are encouraged to court issue a subpoena (a court order) seek legal advice if you have questions As in all criminal trials, the trial begins by law. -
Protecting the Innocent from False Confessions and Lost Confessions--And from Miranda Paul G
Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume 88 Article 2 Issue 2 Winter Winter 1998 Protecting the Innocent from False Confessions and Lost Confessions--And from Miranda Paul G. Cassell Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/jclc Part of the Criminal Law Commons, Criminology Commons, and the Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons Recommended Citation Paul G. Cassell, Protecting the Innocent from False Confessions and Lost Confessions--And from Miranda, 88 J. Crim. L. & Criminology 497 (Winter 1998) This Criminal Law is brought to you for free and open access by Northwestern University School of Law Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology by an authorized editor of Northwestern University School of Law Scholarly Commons. 0091-4169/98/8802-0497 TI' JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL LAW& CRIMINOLOGY Vol. 88, No. 2 Copyright 0 1998 by Northwestern Unh-rsity, School of Law PrinW in U.S.A PROTECTING THE INNOCENT FROM FALSE CONFESSIONS AND LOST CONFESSIONS-AND FROM MIRANDA PAUL G. CASSELL" For most of the last several decades, criminal procedure scholarship-mirroring the Warren Court landmarks it was commenting on-spent little time discussing the guiltless and much discussing the guilty. Recent scholarship suggests a dif- ferent focus is desirable. As one leading scholar recently put it, "the Constitution seeks to protect the innocent."' Professors Leo and Ofshe's preceding article,2 along with ar- ticles like it by (among others) Welsh White and Al Alschuler,4 commendably adopts this approach. Focusing on the plight of an innocent person who confessed to a crime he5 did not com- mit, they recommend certain changes in the rules governing po- " Professor of Law, University of Utah College of Law ([email protected]). -
N.2 Definition of Conviction April 2019
Immigrant Legal Resource Center, www.ilrc.org § N.2 Definition of Conviction April 2019 § N.2 Definition of Conviction Table of Contents I. Definition of Conviction; Limited Effect of Rehabilitative Relief II. When Rehabilitative Relief Works: DACA and Lujan-Armendariz III. Not a Conviction: Pretrial Diversion under Cal Pen C § 1000 (2018) IV. Former California DEJ and Pen C § 1203.43 V. Not a Conviction: Juvenile Delinquency DisPositions VI. Not a Conviction: California Infractions? VII. Not a Conviction: Direct APPeal of Right? VIII. Not a Conviction: Vacation of Judgment for Cause IX. Convictions: Court Martial; Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity How to Avoid or Eliminate a “Conviction” for Immigration PurPoses Most (although not all) immigration consequences relating to crimes require a conviction, as defined by federal immigration law, not state law. If your noncitizen client does not have a conviction for immigration purposes, their immigration case might be saved. This section discusses which dispositions in California criminal courts amount to a conviction for immigration purposes, and how to avoid or eliminate a conviction. Warning: Immigration Consequences Even Without a Conviction. Some immigration penalties are triggered by evidence of conduct or findings, even absent a conviction. A noncitizen might be found inadmissible if immigration authorities have evidence that the person engaged in prostitution1 or ever participated in drug trafficking or money laundering.2 The person might be inadmissible or deportable if they are or were a drug addict or abuser.3 Even a civil finding that a noncitizen violated a domestic violence stay-away order, in any way, makes the person deportable.4 In those situations, avoiding a conviction is a good step, but will not necessarily protect the person. -
Restoring the Confrontation Clause to the Sixth Amendment Randolph N
digitalcommons.nyls.edu Faculty Scholarship Articles & Chapters 1988 Restoring the Confrontation Clause to the Sixth Amendment Randolph N. Jonakait New York Law School, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.nyls.edu/fac_articles_chapters Part of the Constitutional Law Commons, and the Criminal Law Commons Recommended Citation UCLA Law Review, Vol. 35, Issue 4 (April 1988), pp. 557-622 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Faculty Scholarship at DigitalCommons@NYLS. It has been accepted for inclusion in Articles & Chapters by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@NYLS. ARTICLES RESTORING THE CONFRONTATION CLAUSE TO THE SIXTH AMENDMENT Randolph N. Jonakait* INTRODUCTION The relationship between the sixth amendment's con- frontation clause' and out-of-court statements by absent de- clarants is a difficult one.2 Before 1980, the Supreme Court * Professor of Law and Associate Dean, New York Law School. A.B., Princeton University, 1967;J.D., University of Chicago Law School, 1970; LL.M., New York University Law School, 1971. The author wishes to thank his colleague Professor Donald Hazen Zeigler for his helpful comments. 1. The sixth amendment states: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the wit- nesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining wit- nesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense. -
Consequences of Failing to Admit Guilt at Parole Hearings Daniel S
MEDWED_TRANSMITTED.DOC2 2/26/2008 1:51 PM The Innocent Prisoner’s Dilemma: Consequences of Failing to Admit Guilt at Parole Hearings Daniel S. Medwed∗ INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 493 I. THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF PAROLE ................................................ 497 A. HISTORICAL ORIGINS AND PURPOSES OF PAROLE ................................ 497 B. PAROLE RELEASE DECISION-MAKING: CONTEMPORARY STANDARDS AND POLICIES .................................................................................... 504 II. THE EFFECT OF PAROLE RELEASE DECISION-MAKING NORMS ON THE INNOCENT ............................................................................................... 513 A. PAROLE: AN INNOCENCE OPTION OF LAST RESORT ............................. 518 B. PRESSURE ON INNOCENT INMATES TO “ADMIT” GUILT ........................ 523 III. ADMISSIONS OF GUILT AND THE PAROLE RELEASE DECISION RECONSIDERED ....................................................................................... 529 A. THE DANGER OF ASSUMING THE LITIGATION PROCESS ACCURATELY FILTERS THE GUILTY FROM THE INNOCENT ......................................... 530 B. POTHOLES ON THE PATH TO REDEMPTION THROUGH THE PAROLE PROCESS ........................................................................................... 532 IV. SUGGESTIONS FOR REFORM .................................................................... 541 A. LIMITATIONS ON THE SUBSEQUENT USE OF STATEMENTS FROM PAROLE HEARINGS ........................................................................... -
The Presumption of Innocence As a Counterfactual Principle Ferry De Jong & Leonie Van Lent*
This article is published in a peer-reviewed section of the Utrecht Law Review The Presumption of Innocence as a Counterfactual Principle Ferry de Jong & Leonie van Lent* 1. Introduction The presumption of innocence is widely, if not universally, recognized as one of the central principles of criminal justice, which is evidenced by its position in all international and regional human rights treaties as a standard of fair proceedings.1 Notwithstanding this seemingly firm normative position, there are strong indications that the presumption of innocence is in jeopardy on a practical as well as on a normative level. The presumption of innocence has always been much discussed, but in the last decade the topic has generated a particularly significant extent of academic work, both at the national and at the international level.2 The purport of the literature on this topic is twofold: many authors discuss developments in law and in the practice of criminal justice that curtail suspects’ rights and freedoms, and criticize these developments as being violations of the presumption of innocence. Several other authors search for the principle’s normative meaning and implications, some of whom take a critical stance on narrow interpretations of the principle, whereas others assert – by sometimes totally differing arguments – that the presumption of innocence has and should have a more limited normative meaning and scope than is generally attributed to it. An important argument for narrowing down the principle’s meaning or scope of application is the risk involved in a broad conception and a consequently broad field of applicability, viz. that its specific normative value becomes overshadowed and that concrete protection is hampered instead of furthered.3 The ever-increasing international interest in the topic is reflected also in the regulatory interest in the topic on the EU level. -
The Right to Counsel in Collateral, Post-Conviction Proceedings, 58 Md
Maryland Law Review Volume 58 | Issue 4 Article 4 The Right to Counsel in Collateral, Post- Conviction Proceedings Daniel Givelber Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.law.umaryland.edu/mlr Part of the Constitutional Law Commons Recommended Citation Daniel Givelber, The Right to Counsel in Collateral, Post-Conviction Proceedings, 58 Md. L. Rev. 1393 (1999) Available at: http://digitalcommons.law.umaryland.edu/mlr/vol58/iss4/4 This Conference is brought to you for free and open access by the Academic Journals at DigitalCommons@UM Carey Law. It has been accepted for inclusion in Maryland Law Review by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UM Carey Law. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL IN COLLATERAL, POST- CONVICTION PROCEEDINGS DANIEL GIVELBER* I. INTRODUCTION Hornbook constitutional law tells us that the state has no obliga- tion to provide counsel to a defendant beyond his first appeal as of right.1 The Supreme Court has rejected arguments that either the Due Process Clause or the Equal Protection Clause require that the right to counsel apply to collateral, post-conviction proceedings.2 The Court also has rejected the argument that the Eighth Amendment re- quires that the right to an attorney attach to post-conviction proceed- ings specifically in capital cases.' Without resolving the issue, the Court has acknowledged the possibility that there may be a limited right to counsel if a particular constitutional claim can be raised only in post-conviction proceedings.4 Despite their apparently definitive quality, none of the three cases addressing these issues involved a de- fendant who actually had gone through a post-conviction collateral proceeding unrepresented.5 * Interim Dean and Professor of Law, Northeastern University School of Law. -
Compensation Chart by State
Updated 5/21/18 NQ COMPENSATION STATUTES: A NATIONAL OVERVIEW STATE STATUTE WHEN ELIGIBILITY STANDARD WHO TIME LIMITS MAXIMUM AWARDS OTHER FUTURE CONTRIBUTORY PASSED OF PROOF DECIDES FOR FILING AWARDS CIVIL PROVISIONS LITIGATION AL Ala.Code 1975 § 29-2- 2001 Conviction vacated Not specified State Division of 2 years after Minimum of $50,000 for Not specified Not specified A new felony 150, et seq. or reversed and the Risk Management exoneration or each year of incarceration, conviction will end a charges dismissed and the dismissal Committee on claimant’s right to on grounds Committee on Compensation for compensation consistent with Compensation Wrongful Incarceration can innocence for Wrongful recommend discretionary Incarceration amount in addition to base, but legislature must appropriate any funds CA Cal Penal Code §§ Amended 2000; Pardon for Not specified California Victim 2 years after $140 per day of The Department Not specified Requires the board to 4900 to 4906; § 2006; 2009; innocence or being Compensation judgment of incarceration of Corrections deny a claim if the 2013; 2015; “innocent”; and Government acquittal or and Rehabilitation board finds by a 2017 declaration of Claims Board discharge given, shall assist a preponderance of the factual innocence makes a or after pardon person who is evidence that a claimant recommendation granted, after exonerated as to a pled guilty with the to the legislature release from conviction for specific intent to imprisonment, which he or she is protect another from from release serving a state prosecution for the from custody prison sentence at underlying conviction the time of for which the claimant exoneration with is seeking transitional compensation. -
Disentangling the Sixth Amendment
ARTICLES * DISENTANGLING THE SIXTH AMENDMENT Sanjay Chhablani** TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION.............................................................................488 I. THE PATH TRAVELLED: A HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE COURT’S SIXTH AMENDMENT JURISPRUDENCE......................492 II. AT A CROSSROADS: THE RECENT DISENTANGLEMENT OF THE SIXTH AMENDMENT .......................................................505 A. The “All Criminal Prosecutions” Predicate....................505 B. Right of Confrontation ...................................................512 III. THE ROAD AHEAD: ENTANGLEMENTS YET TO BE UNDONE.................................................................................516 A. The “All Criminal Prosecutions” Predicate....................516 B. The Right to Compulsory Process ..................................523 C. The Right to a Public Trial .............................................528 D. The Right to a Speedy Trial............................................533 E. The Right to Confrontation............................................538 F. The Right to Assistance of Counsel ................................541 CONCLUSION.................................................................................548 APPENDIX A: FEDERAL CRIMES AT THE TIME THE SIXTH AMENDMENT WAS RATIFIED...................................................549 * © 2008 Sanjay Chhablani. All rights reserved. ** Assistant Professor, Syracuse University College of Law. I owe a debt of gratitude to Akhil Amar, David Driesen, Keith Bybee, and Gregory -
Grand Jury Handbook-For Jurors
Grand Jury Handbook From the Office of Your District Attorney Welcome to The Grand Jury Welcome. You have just assumed a most important role in the administration of justice in your community. Service on the Grand Jury is one way in which you, as a responsible citizen, can directly participate in government. The Grand Jury has the responsibility of safeguarding individuals from ungrounded prosecution while simultaneously protecting the public from crime and criminals. The purpose of this handbook is to help you meet these responsibilities, and be knowledgeable about your duties and limitations. Your service and Copyright April, 2004 acceptance of your duties as a serious commitment to the community is Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia greatly appreciated. Atlanta, Georgia 30303 This handbook was prepared by the staff of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia and provided to you by your District Attorney’s All rights reserved office to help you fulfill your duties as a Grand Juror. It summarizes the history of the Grand Jury as well as the law and procedures governing the Grand Jury. This handbook will provide you with an overview of the duties, functions and limitations of the Grand Jury. However, the If you have a disability which requires printed materials in alternative formats, legal advice given to you by the court and by me and my assistants will please contact the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia at 404-969-4001. provide a more comprehensive explanation of all of your responsibilities. I sincerely hope you will find the opportunity to participate in the enforcement of the law an enlightening experience. -
Pleadings: Appeal and Error. an Appellate Court
Nebraska Supreme Court Online Library www.nebraska.gov/apps-courts-epub/ 09/28/2021 08:15 PM CDT - 329 - NEBRASKA SUPREME COURT ADVAncE SHEETS 298 NEBRASKA REPORTS NADEEM V. STATE Cite as 298 Neb. 329 MOHAMMED NADEEM, APPELLANT, V. STATE OF NEBRASKA, APPELLEE. ___ N.W.2d ___ Filed December 8, 2017. No. S-16-113. 1. Motions to Dismiss: Pleadings: Appeal and Error. An appellate court reviews a district court’s order granting a motion to dismiss de novo, accepting all allegations in the complaint as true and drawing all reason- able inferences in favor of the nonmoving party. 2. Motions to Dismiss: Pleadings. For purposes of a motion to dismiss, a court may consider some materials that are part of the public record or do not contradict the complaint, as well as materials that are necessarily embraced by the pleadings. 3. Pleadings: Complaints. Documents embraced by the pleadings are materials alleged in a complaint and whose authenticity no party ques- tions, but which are not physically attached to the pleadings. 4. ____: ____. Documents embraced by the complaint are not considered matters outside the pleadings. 5. Res Judicata: Judgments. Res judicata bars relitigation of any right, fact, or matter directly addressed or necessarily included in a former adjudication if (1) the former judgment was rendered by a court of com- petent jurisdiction, (2) the former judgment was a final judgment, (3) the former judgment was on the merits, and (4) the same parties or their privies were involved in both actions. 6. Convictions: Claims: Pleadings. Under Neb. Rev. -
A Federal Criminal Case Timeline
A Federal Criminal Case Timeline The following timeline is a very broad overview of the progress of a federal felony case. Many variables can change the speed or course of the case, including settlement negotiations and changes in law. This timeline, however, will hold true in the majority of federal felony cases in the Eastern District of Virginia. Initial appearance: Felony defendants are usually brought to federal court in the custody of federal agents. Usually, the charges against the defendant are in a criminal complaint. The criminal complaint is accompanied by an affidavit that summarizes the evidence against the defendant. At the defendant's first appearance, a defendant appears before a federal magistrate judge. This magistrate judge will preside over the first two or three appearances, but the case will ultimately be referred to a federal district court judge (more on district judges below). The prosecutor appearing for the government is called an "Assistant United States Attorney," or "AUSA." There are no District Attorney's or "DAs" in federal court. The public defender is often called the Assistant Federal Public Defender, or an "AFPD." When a defendant first appears before a magistrate judge, he or she is informed of certain constitutional rights, such as the right to remain silent. The defendant is then asked if her or she can afford counsel. If a defendant cannot afford to hire counsel, he or she is instructed to fill out a financial affidavit. This affidavit is then submitted to the magistrate judge, and, if the defendant qualifies, a public defender or CJA panel counsel is appointed.