HELPFUL CASES SEPTEMBER 2009

SELECTED STATE AND FEDERAL CASES FAVORABLE TO THE DEFENSE

    United States Supreme Court [None this update]
   
1st Circuit Court of Appeals 
    2nd Circuit Court of Appeals [None this update]
    3rd Circuit Court of Appeals
    4th Circuit Court of Appeals [None this update]
    5th Circuit Court of Appeals [None this update]
    6th Circuit Court of Appeals 
    7th Circuit Court of Appeals 
    8th Circuit Court of Appeals 
    9th Circuit Court of Appeals 
    10th Circuit Court of Appeals [None this update]
    11th Circuit Court of Appeals [None this update]
    D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals [None this update]
    Supreme Court of Delaware [None this update]
    Supreme Court of Florida 
    New York Court of Appeals [None this update]
    Illinois Supreme Court [None this update]
    Texas Criminal Court of Appeals [None this update]


Federal Courts (September1-30, 2009)

Selected Decisions:

1st Circuit Court of Appeals

U.S. v. Cabrera-Rivera (9/25/2009, 1st Cir. No. 08-1702) 2009 U.S. App. LEXIS 21185: Confrontation – Hearsay: Defendant's Confrontation Clause rights were violated by the admission of hearsay evidence.


3rd Circuit Court of Appeals

Simmons v. Beard (9/11/2009, 3rd Cir. No. 05-9001) 2009 U.S. App. LEXIS 20289: Brady: Cumulative effect of the multiple Brady violations undermined confidence in the verdict.


6th Circuit Court of Appeals

U.S. v. Tinklenberg (9/3/2009, 6th Cir. No. 06-2646) 2009 U.S. App. LEXIS 19800: Post-Indictment Delay: Delay between defendant's indictment and prosecution violated the Speedy Trial Act, and a reprosecution would be contrary to the administration of justice because defendant had already served the entirety of his sentence.

Montgomery v. Bagley (9/29/2009, 6th Cir. No. 07-3882) 2009 U.S. App. LEXIS 21314: Brady: Conviction vacated because prosecution withheld exculpatory pretrial report.


7th Circuit Court of Appeals

U.S. v. Katz (9/22/2009, 7thCir. No. 08-2341) 2009 U.S. App. LEXIS 20927: Possession Of Firearm By A Felon (18 USC 922(g)): Insufficient Evidence.


8th Circuit Court of Appeals

U.S. v. Dooley (9/1/2009, 8th Cir. No. 08-3523) 2009 U.S. App. LEXIS 19627: Felon In Possession Of A Firearm (18 USC 922(g)(1)): Instruction On Constructive Possession: Ambiguity in a jury instruction that defendant was in constructive possession of the firearm was reversible error.

U.S. v. Espinosa (9/18/2009, 8th Cir. No. 08-3354) 2009 U.S. App. LEXIS 20763: Aggravated Sexual Abuse: Insufficient Evidence Of Victim’s Age.


9th Circuit Court of Appeals

Hamilton v. Ayers (9/18/2009, 9th Cir. No. 06-990080 2009 U.S. App. LEXIS 21107: IAC: Death Penalty – Failure To Investigate Mitigation: Trial counsel was constitutionally ineffective for failing to investigate and present to the jury the wealth of classic mitigating evidence that was available to him.


Supreme Court of Florida

Hurst v. State of Florida (9/17/2009, No. SC07-1798) 2009 Fla. LEXIS 1558: IAC: Death Penalty – Failure To Investigate Mitigation.