Evidence

Public defenders say modified ShotSpotter coordinates were used to implicate client; is it a widespread problem?

Updated: Gunshot detection technology known as ShotSpotter has been used as evidence in 190 court cases even as some critics raise questions about the technology.

Jul 27, 2021 11:24 AM CDT

Judge permits prosecutors to use facial recognition to open accused Capitol rioter’s laptop

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday granted a Department of Justice request to place an accused U.S. Capitol rioter in front of his laptop to unlock the device with facial recognition.

Jul 23, 2021 10:56 AM CDT

Lawyer who lobbed F-word at judge is sentenced to jail time

A St. Louis County lawyer has been sentenced to a week in jail for directing the F-word toward a judge during a hearing in a medical malpractice case.

Jul 19, 2021 10:57 AM CDT

Good cop, bad cop: What happens when police get too cozy with informants?

Over a year ago, I wrote a column for my “law and pop culture” series regarding the A&E show Live PD. In that column, I spoke about the problems these types of series can cause for defendants and law enforcement.

Jul 8, 2021 2:15 PM CDT

3 newest justices join Supreme Court liberals in decision for fleeing misdemeanor suspect

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that police officers who are pursuing a misdemeanor suspect aren’t necessarily entitled to enter a home without a warrant.

Jun 23, 2021 9:53 AM CDT

Judge sanctions Dechert lawyers for ‘willful disregard’ of her order on impeachment evidence

A federal judge overseeing 3M earplug litigation in Pensacola, Florida, has sanctioned a Dechert lawyer $10,000 for showing jurors a slide on the devices’ effectiveness in closing arguments without making clear that the information could be considered for impeachment purposes but not for truthfulness.

Jun 22, 2021 2:31 PM CDT

DOJ seeks reinstatement of death penalty for Boston Marathon bomber

The U.S. Department of Justice is backing reinstatement of the death sentence for the Boston Marathon bomber in a brief filed Monday with the U.S. Supreme Court.

Jun 16, 2021 9:29 AM CDT

A new evidence management tool aims to help public defenders process video and audio

Two University of Chicago alums and technologists have developed a technology platform known as JusticeText, an AI-powered evidence management tool primarily geared toward public defenders.

Jun 16, 2021 9:07 AM CDT

Citing lack of evidence, prosecutor drops summons against appeals judge accused of nearly hitting protester

A specially appointed prosecutor won’t be pursuing a case against a North Carolina appeals judge who's accused of nearly hitting a Black Lives Matter protester with his SUV.

Jun 15, 2021 10:52 AM CDT

SCOTUS will hear case involving FBI surveillance of Muslim community and state secrets privilege

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider the government’s ability to invoke the state secrets privilege to defeat a lawsuit accusing the FBI of illegally spying on the Muslim community.

Jun 7, 2021 12:06 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Legal industry jobs jump again; Boies Schiller emails admissible at former CEO’s trial

Legal industry gains 1,700 jobs in May The legal services industry gained 1,700 jobs in May, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released Friday by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The industry had a total 1,138,500 jobs, which is 40,600 more jobs than in May 2020, a period when the industry…

Jun 4, 2021 4:02 PM CDT

How one lawyer is trying to solve a John Wayne Gacy murder mystery

Steven Becker wasn’t sure what he’d see at his first exhumation. But here he was, on Sept. 5, 2012, at the Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois, on behalf of his client, who insisted that the body in the coffin was not—despite what police said—her son.

Jun 1, 2021 12:05 AM CDT

Judge cuts sentence after defense lawyer claims ‘shady shenanigans’ by federal prosecutor

A federal judge in Kansas City, Kansas, has slashed a defendant’s sentence from 20 to nine years in prison, citing a federal prosecutor’s failure to “conduct herself as a prosecutor must.”

May 26, 2021 12:07 PM CDT

Plaintiff who alleges hip implant injuries must turn over Fitbit data, federal judge rules

A plaintiff who alleges that he was injured by a defective hip implant must turn over data from his Fitbit to the defendant, a federal judge ruled Monday.

May 26, 2021 10:49 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Controversial remarks by ‘QAnon shaman’ lawyer; progressive district attorney wins primary

Lawyer for ‘QAnon shaman’ says rioters are ‘short-bus people’ Albert Watkins, the lawyer for the accused U.S. Capitol Hill rioter known as the “QAnon Shaman,” told Talking Points Memo that a lot of the rioting defendants are “short-bus people.” Watkins said the defendants are people with “brain damage, they’re f-…

May 19, 2021 4:19 PM CDT