19 May Supreme Court Decision Showcases Danger of Nonunanimous Jury Verdicts
The Supreme Court decision in Edwards v Vannoy showcases exactly why letting nonunanimous jury verdicts stand is so dangerous.
Author: Peter J. Tomasek
17 May Explainer: The BOP Slow-Walks First Step Act Implementation
The First Step Act has a measure for rehabilitating prisoners that could start now, but the BOP has slow-walked its implementation anyway.
15 May Louisiana Public Defender Changes May Be Coming
Public defenders make the Sixth Amendment's right-to-counsel guarantee possible, but some say their independence is in jeopardy in Louisiana.
05 May The First Step Act Risk And Needs Assessment Explained
The First Step Act requires that the Attorney General and BOP complete a risk and needs assessment for each prisoner. What is the assessment?
01 May Explainer: Will Chauvin Appeal his Convictions?
Chauvin was convicted of two murder counts and one manslaughter count, but an appeal, as well as other investigations, are sure to come.
29 Apr Oregon Won’t Backtrack on KKK-Influenced Nonunanimous Jury Rule
Since the 1930s, a KKK-influenced Oregon law has kept unconstitutionally convicted defendants locked up based on nonunanimous jury trials.
21 Apr Chauvin Verdict Rare, Important Example of Police Accountability
Something extraordinarily rare happened yesterday: the Chauvin verdict. It's just the 7th murder conviction for a police killing since 2005.
12 Mar Yes, This Kentucky Bill Would Actually Criminalize Police Insults
A bill pending in the Kentucky Senate aims to criminalize police insults, a clear shot at free speech protected by the First Amendment.
08 Mar Virginia Becomes the First Southern State to Eliminate the Death Penalty
Virginia is on track to become the first southern state to eliminate the death penalty, but Tennessee and Kentucky could follow.
05 Mar Right to Vote in Prison Takes a Monumental Step
While the amendment ultimately failed, 97 Democratic lawmakers voted to support the right to vote in prison, a monumental step forward.