Category Archives: Criminal
U.S. Supreme Court Makes Deporting Immigrants with Criminal Convictions Easier
In late April, the US Supreme Court made two decisions that will make circumstances significantly more difficult for immigrants seeking legal status; First, denying requests from New York and other states to block the controversial public charge rule during the pandemic, which makes it more difficult for immigrants to obtain legal status if they… Read More »
Supreme Court Bans Non-Unanimous Jury Verdicts in Serious Crime Convictions, But Could It Also Be Opening the Door to More?
A criminal case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in late April – Ramos v. Louisiana – has criminal justice advocates both celebrating and concerned about future rulings. The Court ruled that because the Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to an impartial trial, and the Court has held, numerous times, that this guarantees the… Read More »
NYPD Targeting Poor Neighborhoods for Social Distancing ‘Crimes’ & Other Low-Level Arrests
At a time when governments and officials are modifying a number of practices around the country, including directing police to use discretion and only make arrests when absolutely necessary due to the dangerous and highly contagious nature of the coronavirus, the New York Police Department (NYPD) does not appear to be slowing down at… Read More »
U.S. Supreme Court Makes Monumental Decision Opening Door for Immigrants with Criminal Convictions to Have Deportation Orders Reviewed by The Courts
The U.S. Supreme Court recently made an important decision that will allow a number of immigrants—including those convicted of crimes—to challenge deportation orders. The case – Guerrero-Lasprilla v. Barr (consolidated with similar case Ovalles v. Barr), involved an appeal from two immigrants whose reviews were denied by the Fifth Circuit, which claimed that it… Read More »
U.S. Supreme Court Rules That Police Officers Can Pull Over Cars Simply Because Car Owner’s Driver’s License Is Suspended or Revoked
In April, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on a traffic stop case that was of supreme importance to Fourth Amendment rights, finding that police can pull over a driver simply because the car is registered to someone whose driver’s license is suspended or revoked. In doing so, the Court overturned the state supreme court,… Read More »
Criminal Charges Related to Actual & Potential Coronavirus Transmission
With the coronavirus pandemic reaching epic proportions here in the U.S. and around the world, anxiety levels are heightened to the point where, in some cases, criminal charges are being brought against individuals who fail to comply with stay at home orders in a number of states. Even New York recently announced that fines… Read More »
U.S. Supreme Court Weighs Definition of Serious Drug Offense & Criminalization of Immigration Advocacy
In late February, the Supreme Court ruled on and heard very important criminal cases; one involving what is considered to be a serious drug offense under the Armed Career Criminal Act, while the other (which has not yet been ruled on) could determine whether those engaging in immigration advocacy could be arrested and prosecuted… Read More »
Videos Emerge Showing NYPD Officer Planting Marijuana During Traffic Stops, Raising Questions About Body Cameras
In March, yet another video of the same New York Police Department (NYPD) officer who was previously caught planting marijuana in a car was released, once again showing this same officer planting marijuana during a different traffic stop. These videos highlight serious conspiracy and corruption within the NYPD when it comes to framing particular… Read More »
Federal Department of Justice Proposes Drastic Changes to Defendants’ and Immigrants’ Rights Due to Coronavirus Emergency
According to a new report released by Politico in March, the federal Department of Justice requested that Congress pass legislation allowing for significant new powers in the wake of the coronavirus; powers that would suspend a number of criminal defendants’ constitutional rights, allowing justices to indefinitely hold people without trial, as well as restrict… Read More »
Current Criminal Cases Examining Under What Circumstances DNA Can Be Taken by Deception Without a Warrant
The issue of how police are obtaining DNA in order to charge suspects with crimes is an issue that is becoming more and more relevant every day as police appear to be using new investigative techniques that combine genetic testing and genealogical records to in some instances solve decades old cold cases more and… Read More »
