Category Archives: Criminal Law

Riley v. California: Behind the Decision

On April 25, the Supreme Court held that police must obtain a warrant to search the digital contents of an arrestee’s phone. The unanimous ruling raised many interesting points, and so Professor Douglas Godfrey (IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law) sat down to explain the decision. The decision was for both Riley v. California and United States v. Wurie.

Court Rules Life without Parole for Juveniles Unconstitutional

Case: Miller v. Alabama In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court held that the sentencing of two fourteen-year-old boys to life without parole violated the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.

Astrue v. Capato – Argument Preview

Case:

Astrue v. Capato

Prof. Chris Seaman of the IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law highlights the issues involved in Astrue v. Capato, which will be heard by the Supreme Court on Monday, March 19, 2012.

Argument Preview – Williams v. Illinois

Locations


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Case:

Williams v. Illinois

Prof. Sanford Greenberg of IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law discusses a case that examines the role of expert witnesses and the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment.

Argument Preview – Perry v. New Hampshire

Case:

Perry v. New Hampshire

Prof. Richard Kling discusses the Court’s upcoming review of the reliability of eye witness testimony in Perry v. New Hampshire.

Court Agrees to Hear Double Jeopardy Challenge

Case: Blueford v. Arkansas The Court today agreed to hear a double jeopardy case, specifically addressing whether an accused murderer can be retried on all counts if the first jury deadlocks on lesser charges but acquits him of a greater offense. The case is No. 10-1320, Blueford v. Arkansas. You can read the full background … Continue reading Court Agrees to Hear Double Jeopardy Challenge