Criminal Justice SystemCriminal LawEvidenceMental Health
September 29, 2026By Gianelle Cabrera
Few criminal defenses generate as much controversy as the insanity defense.[i] To some, a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity sounds like an escape from responsibility.[ii] To others, punishing a person who could not understand the nature or wrongfulness of her actions undermines the basic principles upon which criminal liability rests. Madness does […]
Read More
Constitutional LawCriminal LawFeaturedSixth Amendment
March 31, 2026By Crystal Couso
When a party alleges a witness has been tampered with, they invoke one of the justice system’s most critical procedural safeguards: the protection of witness testimony and the preservation of judicial integrity. The prosecution of rapper Jamell Demons, famously known as YNW Melly (“Melly”), has brought this concern to focus. In 2018, Melly was charged […]
Read More
Constitutional LawCriminal LawFeatured
March 17, 2026By Jennifer Fanea
What happens when a police officer activates his body-worn camera while responding to a disturbance at a private residence and weeks later, without the homeowner’s knowledge or consent, the owner learns that the footage of his living room, arrest, and emotional reactions was reviewed by officers and used to shape testimony? This commonplace inquiry illustrates […]
Read More
Constitutional LawCriminal LawDeath PenaltyFeatured
February 11, 2026By Marcela Rivera
Over twenty years ago, the Supreme Court held that the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment forbade states from executing individuals with intellectual disabilities.[i] In Atkins v. Virginia, the Court issued a landmark ruling recognizing that diminished culpability, the absence of meaningful deterrence, and an increased risk of wrongful execution render capital punishment […]
Read More
