More from this issue:

1. News in Brief
2. Race-Based Arrests Rampant in San Francisco, by Kevin Bliss
3. Tracking the Prevalence of Police Crime, by David Reutter
4. Former Balch Springs, Texas, Officer Found Guilty of Murder of Black Teen, by Kevin Bliss
5. Massachusetts Drug Lab Scandal: Thousands More Cases Likely Affected, by Kevin Bliss
6. $225,000 Settlement by Detroit for Unjustified Shooting of Dogs in Drug Case, by Derek Gilna
7. Why Defining a ‘Credible Witness’ in Criminal Trials Is a Slippery Slope, by Steve Horn
8. Illinois Law on Informants Designed to Avoid Wrongful Convictions, by Betty Nelander
9. ‘Innocent Man Almost Executed’ Freed After Decade on Death Row, by Betty Nelander
10. Washington Governor Expects to Pardon About 3,500 for Single Misdemeanor Pot Convictions, by Betty Nelander
11. Police Commit Significant Number of Sex Crimes, Which May Shock the General Public but Not Those Familiar with Law Enforcement, by Kevin Bliss
12. Juror Bias Often Triggered by Severity of Crime Charged, by Edward Lyon
13. Investigation and Arrest of Mail Bomb Suspect Rips Cover Off Postal Surveillance, by Derek Gilna
14. Campus Cops on Municipal Streets Raises Transparency and Accountability Concerns, by Virginia Griese
15. Louisiana Ends Jim Crow-era Law: Unanimous Jury Requirement Now in Constitution, by Virginia Griese
16. ‘Texas Reneging on Deal’ With Draconian Sex Offender Registry, but Some Are Fighting Back, by Edward Lyon
17. Montana Supreme Court: Retrial Following Mistrial Declared Without 
‘Manifest Necessity’ Violates Prohibition on Double Jeopardy, by Mark Wilson
18. U.S. Senator Sounds Alarm on Privacy, Public Safety Concerns of Cell-Site Simulators, by Derek Gilna
19. DEA Agents Trap Cocaine-Trafficking Suspects with Doctored Blackberrys, by Derek Gilna
20. Federal Judge Signals That Defense Counsel Will Be Permitted To Argue Jury Nullification in Questionable Child Porn Prosecution, by Chad Marks
21. Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Rules Defense Attorney Violated McCoy, Reverses Capital Convictions and Orders New Trial, by Chad Marks
22. Nevada Supreme Court Reverses Convictions Where Trial Court Failed to Conduct Third Step of Batson Challenge, by Chad Marks
23. Sixth Circuit: Tennessee Aggravated Sexual Battery Is Not a SORNA Tier III Offense, by Christopher Zoukis
24. Georgia Supreme Court: Asportation Required to Support Kidnapping Conviction, by David Reutter
25. Montana Supreme Court Overrules Its Precedents Confusing Venue and Jurisdiction, Announces Venue Is Waivable But Cannot Waive Jurisdiction, by Dale Chappell
26. California Court of Appeal: Commissioner Cannot Preside Over Parole Revocation Hearing Absent Stipulation, by Douglas Ankney
27. Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules Attempt to Close Door in Officer’s Face Clear Signal that Consent Not Given for Warrantless Entry, by Douglas Ankney
28. Report: Bitemark Analysis Debunked as Pseudoscience, by Richard Resch
29. Montana Supreme Court: City May Not Impose Local Surcharge Not Authorized by State Law for Violation of State Criminal Statute, by Derek Gilna
30. Sixth Circuit Holds Tennessee Burglary Not Violent Felony Under ACCA, Overturning Previous Controlling Authority in Light of SCOTUS’ Mathis Opinion, by Dale Chappell
31. Maine Supreme Court Rules Double Jeopardy Bars Re-Use of Evidence at Second Trial After Acquittal Based on Same Evidence at First Trial on Different Charges, by Dale Chappell
32. West Virginia Supreme Court Vacates Sentence After State Violates Plea Bargain by Making Recommendation at Sentencing, by Matthew Clarke
33. Tenth Circuit Clarifies Proper Test for Pretrial Hearing on Seized Assets Needed to Retain Counsel, by Matthew Clarke
34. Public Support for Militarized Policing Ebbs, Fails to Improve Safety, by Edward Lyon
35. Minnesota Supreme Court Clarifies Rule Against Judicial ‘Participation’ in Plea Negotiations, by Dale Chappell
36. Study Shows Reassigning Problem Cops Could Have Saved Chicago More than $6 Million in Lawsuit Payouts, by Dale Chappell
37. Washington Supreme Court Announces Effective Date of Certificate of Discharge Is Date Offender Completes All Sentence Requirements, by Chad Marks
38. Fourth Circuit Vacates USSG Career Offender Sentence Predicated on Georgia Robbery, by Christopher Zoukis
39. Iowa Supreme Court Announces New SOL Rule for Consecutive Postconviction IAC Claims, by Dale Chappell
40. Ninth Circuit Remands Drug Case for Reconsideration of Sentencing Guidelines’ Minor-Role Adjustment, by Christopher Zoukis
41. N.Y. Court of Appeals Announces When Trial Commences for Timeliness of Pro Se Requests, by Edward Lyon
42. President Trump Signs First Step Act Into Law—It’s a Good Initial Attempt at Meaningful Reform, by Chad Marks
43. South Carolina Supreme Court Holds Broken Chain of Custody for Drug Evidence Requires Reversal of Conviction, by Dale Chappell
44. America’s Cities Are Criminalizing Homelessness, by Matthew Clarke
45. Habeas Hints: SCOTUS Review 2017-18, by Kent Russell, Tara Hoveland
46. Pennsylvania Supreme Court Holds Defendant Unambiguously Invoked Right to Remain Silent Suppresses Confession and Derivative Physical Evidence and Announces New Rule, by Chad Marks
47. Capital Punishment in the United States: Explained, by Jessica Brand, Callie Heller

More from Kent Russell:

• Habeas Hints: Discovery on Habeas Corpus, May 15, 2019
• Habeas Hints: SCOTUS Review 2017-18, Jan. 17, 2019
• Habeas Hints: Evaluating and Initiating IAC Claims, Nov. 28, 2018
• Habeas Hints: Ineffective Assistance of Trial Counsel - Hints for 2018: IAC #1, Jan. 19, 2018
• Habeas Hints: SCOTUS Review 2016–17, Nov. 16, 2017
• Habeas Hints, Oct. 26, 2015
• Habeas Hints: Supreme Court Habeas Review 2014, Nov. 8, 2014
• Habeas Hints: Evidentiary Hearings, May 15, 2006
• Habeas Hints: How to Get DNA Testing, Feb. 15, 2006
• Habeas Hints, Sept. 15, 2005

More from Tara Hoveland:

• Habeas Hints: Discovery on Habeas Corpus, May 15, 2019
• Habeas Hints: SCOTUS Review 2017-18, Jan. 17, 2019
• Habeas Hints: Evaluating and Initiating IAC Claims, Nov. 28, 2018
• Habeas Hints: Understanding and Satisfying the Strickland Test for IAC, May 15, 2018
• Habeas Hints: Ineffective Assistance of Trial Counsel - Hints for 2018: IAC #1, Jan. 19, 2018
• Habeas Hints: SCOTUS Review 2016–17, Nov. 16, 2017

More from these topics:

• California Court of Appeal: Trial Courts Have Inherent Authority to Correct Unauthorized Sentences at Any Time Without Habeas Petition, Jan. 1, 2026. Habeas Corpus, Possession or Use of Firearms, Sentences - Authorized, Sentences - Corrections or Modifications of, Effect of Vacatur.
• First Circuit Announces Modification of Juvenile’s Life-­Without-­Parole Sentence to Parole-­Eligible Life Term Constitutes “New Judgment” Under AEDPA, Exempting Second-­in-­Time Habeas Petition From Gatekeeping Requirements, Jan. 1, 2026. Parole, Habeas Corpus, Life without Parole (LWOP), AEDPA, Juvenile Offenses/Offenders.
• Supreme Court of Maryland Announces Division of Correction Must Immediately Apply Time-Served Credit Against Valid Sentences When Convictions Are Vacated and May Not Toll Execution Pending Reprosecution; New Sentences Arising From New Convictions Take, Jan. 1, 2026. Habeas Corpus, Overdetention, Effect of Vacatur, Credits, Concurrent and Consecutive Sentences.
• Alabama Supreme Court Denies DOC’s Improper Venue Objection, Jan. 1, 2026. Defenses, Good Time, Habeas Corpus, Failure to Object, Authority and Jurisdiction.
• DOJ Leaves Louisiana Over-Detention Suit on Life Support, Two Others Granted Class-Action Status, Dec. 1, 2025. Class Certification, Habeas Corpus, Overdetention, Fourteenth Amendment, rights, Unlawful Detention.
• Maine Superior Court Order to Reform Public Defender System Paused on Appeal, Dec. 1, 2025. Indigent Defense, Injunctions, Habeas Corpus, Sixth Amendment, Counsel - Constructive denial of.
• First Circuit: District Court Abused Discretion by Sua Sponte Raising Statute of Limitations Defense to Habeas Petition After Respondents Had Intelligently “Waived” It by Being Aware of Availability but Failing to Assert It, Nov. 15, 2025. Defenses, Limitations, Habeas Corpus, Double jeopardy, Knowingly and Intelligently.
• Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Announces Defendants on Appeal Bonds for Fine-Only Class C Misdemeanors Are “Restrained” for Purposes of Seeking Habeas Relief, Nov. 15, 2025. Habeas Corpus, Collateral Consequences, Pending Appeal/Sentencing, Statutory Construction/Interpretation, Authority and Jurisdiction.
• Eighth Circuit Announces § 2255 One-­Year Limitations Period Begins to Run in Deferred-­Restitution Criminal Case When Subsequent Amended Judgment Finalizes Amount, Nov. 15, 2025. Limitations, Habeas Corpus, Restitution, AEDPA.
• SCOTUS Overturns Oklahoma Prisoner’s Death Sentence After More than 25 Years on Death Row, Nov. 1, 2025. Ex Post Facto, Good Time, Wrongful Conviction, Habeas Corpus, Wrongful Imprisonment, Pardons/Clemency, First Step Act, Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act (CAFRA), Specific Offenses, Controlled Substances, Weapons, Accuracy of Information, Depraved Indifference Murder, Evidence - Circumstantial, Theft, Failure to Disclose, Perjury/Perjured Testimony, Evidence - Failure to Disclose, New Trial - Motions for, Pleas Linked to Cooperation, Evidence - Destruction/Fabrication/Manipulation of, Selective Prosecution/Enforcement, Improper Comments, Official Report, Withholding of Exculpatory Evidence, Exculpatory Evidence - Disclosure Obligations.