A Colorado man who has insisted on his innocence for 30 years will get a new trial because the forensic analyst’s testimony in his trial is no longer supported by scientific evidence. In order for someone to offer an expert opinion in court, the judge must be...
conviction
Wisconsin Supreme Court: sex trafficking is a defense for murder
If someone is trafficked sexually and, as a result of that, kills their trafficker, they may be innocent under Wisconsin law, according to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The initial question is whether the sex-trafficking victim committed the homicide as a direct result...
Fatally flawed arson evidence means Tennessee man goes free
In February 1992, 24-year-old Lorie Lance died in a fire in Old Hickory, Tennessee. Her boyfriend, Claude Garrett, awoke to find his and Lorie’s living room on fire. He woke Lorie up and ran for the door, but Lorie suddenly turned and ran toward the back of the house....
Alabama DA reviews death penalty case, finds obvious problems
District attorneys around the U.S. are reviewing past convictions for evidence that they were wrongful. Unfortunately, there are many situations that can lead to wrongful convictions. Recently, the DA for Jefferson County, Alabama, reviewed Toforest Johnson’s...
California just reformed its bail system
Should people be locked up for being unable to pay bail? More than 30 years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court held that was unconstitutional. Bail is meant to incentivize people to show up at their court dates. But as we mentioned in a recent blog post, nearly half a...
Wisconsin has no plans for independent review of bad evidence
After learning that its own hair and fiber analysis methods were faulty, the FBI has tried to identify all criminal convictions that relied on such evidence. The agency has initiated a nationwide review of all cases involving such evidence before 2000, when the FBI...
Wisconsin man convicted in child porn case
Access to the Internet is becoming easier every day, leading to widespread use of many websites. This access has led to greater prosecution of Internet crimes, such as cyberstalking, sexual exploitation of a child and the possession and distribution of child...
Milwaukee man pleads guilty to six counts of child pornography
In cases in which those accused of serious crimes face mounting evidence, a meaningful strategic plan may be used as a way to obtain a lesser punishment. Sometimes, it may be to the defendant's advantage to plead guilty to an offense if he or she is offered a plea...
Milwaukee police officer suspended after alleged drunk driving crash
In Wisconsin, as in most states, a drunk driving offense carries strict penalties. Penalties for a first-time OWI may include driver's license revocation, mandatory alcohol education or treatment, fines and even time behind bars. Sadly, a drunk driving conviction can...
Wisconsin man charged with alleged seventh OWI
Those accused and convicted of drunk driving may be subjected to life-long consequences. In Wisconsin, a defendant convicted for a first Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) offense faces stringent penalties including a fine, license revocation, mandatory alcohol...