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    Witness Tampering on My Mind: What the YNW Melly Trial Reveals About Pretrial Justice

    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 […]

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    Constitutional LawFeaturedSixth Amendment

    Trial Tok: The Cardi B Trial and the Effects of Social Media

    October 2, 2025By Crystal Couso

    The recently concluded trial of popular rapper Cardi B brought into focus a pressing challenge for modern courts. Far from being mere celebrity drama, the trial showcased how social media can upend the seriousness of judicial proceedings.  Throughout the trial, snippets of Cardi B’s testimony went viral across several social media platforms.  Questions about her […]

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    Constitutional LawFeaturedSixth Amendment

    Public Spectacle is Undermining Luigi Mangione’s Constitutional Rights

    April 1, 2025By Kevin Nakfour

      The United States criminal justice system relies upon a procedure called voir dire. The term is French for “to speak the truth,” and it refers to the process by which potential jurors in a criminal trial are questioned by attorneys and judges to determine their qualifications and biases. It’s a cornerstone of the criminal […]

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