Posts In 2009

Sentence Vacated Under Plain Error Standard Government Breached Plea Agreement Dec 04

United States v. Dawson, No. 08-4000 (4th Cir. Dec. 3, 2009). PDF available here. Yesterday, the Fourth Circuit issued an opinion ...

Jurors Grandmother Dies Juror Tells Chambers COSA Reverses Dec 01

In an opinion filed yesterday, the Court of Special Appeals reversed a defendant’s murder conviction and remanded the case for a ...

Voir Dire Is Not Foolproof but Gives Meaning to Constitutional Rights Nov 17

What is the Meaning of Voir Dire? Voir dire is the process that trial courts and attorneys use to question prospective jurors and ...

Fourth Circuit Scrutinizes ACCA Predicate and Holds in Favor of Defendant Nov 17

Today, the Fourth Circuit held in favor of a defendant in a case involving whether an offense can be deemed an ACCA predicate. The ...

Court of Appeals of Maryland Finds No Bad Faith, Reverses Circuit Court’s Dismissal of Second Indictment Nov 12

State v. Huntley, Record No. 157 (Court of Appeals of Maryland, Sept. Term, 2008) In an opinion filed November 12, 2009, the Court ...

For Now at Least, the Court of Special Appeals Finds No Second Amendment Protection Against Maryland’s Firearm Regulations Nov 05

Williams v. State of Maryland, Record No. 01999, (Court of Special Appeals, Sept. Term, 2008) In an opinion filed October 30, ...