Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court refused to stay the execution of a Mexican citizen, Humberto Leal Garcia, who was convicted of the 1994 rape and murder in Texas, despite requests from his defense attorneys and the United States and Mexican governments to postpone the execution. A few hours later, “Supreme Court Allows Execution of a Mexican Citizen in Texas”
Federal Judge Approves Forced Medication for Alleged Tucson Shooter
Federal district court judge Larry A. Burns in San Diego has recently ruled that Jared Lee Loughner, an individual who is charged with shooting Representative Gabrielle Giffords, will continue taking forced antipsychotic drugs in order to make him competent to stand trial. Loughner has been prosecuted for the Tucson shooting “Federal Judge Approves Forced Medication for Alleged Tucson Shooter”
Former Illinois Governor Convicted of Trying to Sell Obama’s Senate Seat
Rod R. Blagojevich, the former governor of Illinois, has been found guilty of wide range of corruption charges including wire fraud, bribery, attempted extortion, extortion and bribery conspiracy, and of trying to sell Obama’s Senate seat in exchange for personal gain. A jury deliberated for 10 days and convicted the “Former Illinois Governor Convicted of Trying to Sell Obama’s Senate Seat”
Supreme Court Protects New Orleans DA from Damages for Prosecutorial Misconduct
Prosecutors are required to disclose to defense counsel evidence favorable to the accused that may affect the outcome of a criminal trial. A violation of this constitutional rule is called a Brady violation that mandates reversal of a criminal conviction. When such a violation is uncovered long after an accused “Supreme Court Protects New Orleans DA from Damages for Prosecutorial Misconduct”
Miranda: The Prosecution Will Not Use What You Say to Help You
The United States Supreme Court requires that a criminal defendant be advised of the rights to remain silent and request an attorney before being questioned by the police while in custody. For over 40 years these rights have been enshrined in the famous Miranda warning, an important procedural safeguard to “Miranda: The Prosecution Will Not Use What You Say to Help You”
Trial for Michael Jackson’s Doctor Conrad Murray Delayed until September
A Los Angeles judge delayed the trial of Michael Jackson’s doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, at the request of his defense attorneys who sought additional time to prepare for cross-examination of new prosecution witnesses. The parties are now scheduled to resume jury selection on September 8, 2011. Last week when the “Trial for Michael Jackson’s Doctor Conrad Murray Delayed until September”
Is Your Data Safe in Your Lawyer’s Laptop? Not if the Lawyer Travels.
Ethical rules require attorneys to strictly maintain client secrets and take every effort to safeguard those secrets. So should you worry if your lawyer keeps your client information on a laptop computer, an i-Pad, netbook, cell phone or USB device? Is that data safe so long as the device is “Is Your Data Safe in Your Lawyer’s Laptop? Not if the Lawyer Travels.”
San Diego Judge Sentences Man to Jail for Impersonating a Doctor
A 75-year-old San Diego man, Kurt Walter Donsbach, has been sentenced to a year in a county jail and ordered to serve probation for practicing medicine in California without a license. The terms and conditions of his probation, among other things, prohibit Mr. Donsbach from referring to himself as a “San Diego Judge Sentences Man to Jail for Impersonating a Doctor”
The California Supreme Court Authorizes Warrantless Searches of Cell Phones
The California Supreme Court recently ruled that law enforcement officers are authorized to conduct a warrantless search of cell phones obtained from a defendant after arrest. The Court granted review to determine whether the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution was violated when approximately 90 minutes after lawfully arresting “The California Supreme Court Authorizes Warrantless Searches of Cell Phones”
Criminal Protective Orders and Restraining Orders
Restraining and protective orders are court issued orders limiting or prohibiting an individual from contacting the alleged victim of a crime. The names for each order are essentially synonymous. In criminal matters, the court is authorized to issue restraining orders, which are generally referred to as criminal protective orders, to “Criminal Protective Orders and Restraining Orders”