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Published byRemington Dawkins Modified over 9 years ago
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Chapter 13 The Courtroom: The Pretrial and Trial Process
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Preliminary Hearing must be held within a “reasonable period of time” to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to subject the defendant to criminal prosecution defendant has a right to representation by a lawyer indictment states, information states, and modified indictment states
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Grand Jury Fifth Amendment Hurtado v. California Vazquez v. Hillery: automatic reversal rule indictment true bill vs. no bill presentment essential features of indictment essential elements factual specificity power of grand jury investigations
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Arraignment defendant is brought before a judge, is informed of the charges, and required to enters a plea four pleas not guilty not guilty by reason of insanity nolo contendere guilty
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Pretrial Motions double jeopardy Fifth Amendment United States v. Difrancesco speedy trial Sixth Amendment Klopfer v. North Carolina change of venue Article III, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution Groppi v. Wisconsin
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Pretrial Motions (cont.) discovery Brady v. Maryland suppression of evidence Fourth Amendment Fifth Amendment Miranda requirements exclusionary rule
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Right to a Jury Trial Article III, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution Sixth Amendment Duncan v. Louisiana Baldwin v. New York Blanton v. City of North Las Vegas Lewis v. United
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Twelve-Member Jury Requirement Thompson v. Utah: the Sixth Amendment follows the common law and guarantees an individual a jury composed of twelve persons, “neither more nor less” in federal court Williams v. Florida: states are not required to use 12 member juries Ballew v. Georgia: five jurors is too few
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Jury Selection venire voir dire peremptory challenge challenge for cause Equal Protection Clause
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Peremptory Challenges a juror who has his/her “mind made up” cannot fairly and impartially weigh the evidence, should not serve on the jury, and should be struck for cause a challenge that is “exercised without a reason stated, without inquiry, and without being subject to the court’s control” limited number
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Challenge to Judges federal “challenge-for-cause” and similar state statutes file a motion claiming judicial bias recusal Caperton v. A.T. Massey
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Public Trial Sixth Amendment a central component of due process applies to all hearings related to the trial designed to protect defendants from being subjected to secret trials press and public may be excluded from a preliminary hearing where there is a substantial probability that the publicity will prejudice the defendant’s right to a fair trial and there are no reasonable alternatives to closing the hearing proceedings may be closed to protect juveniles alleged to have been the victims of sexual abuse
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Opening Statement a brief verbal presentation of the evidence that a lawyer plans to present lawyers are not to refer to evidence reasonably believed to be inadmissible later on should not be used to make an impassioned argument or emotional appeal
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Presentation of Evidence case-in-chief presented by prosecution cross-examination motion for a judgement of acquittal rebuttal
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Confrontation Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause based on a concern with insuring the accuracy of trials issue of sexual molestation of juveniles
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Cross-Examination John Henry Wigmore: the “greatest” contribution of the common law and the “greatest legal engine ever invented for the discovery of the truth” to determine whether a witness’s testimony can withstand questioning that probes the witness’s accuracy, consistency, and objectivity Davis v. Alaska Olden v. Kentucky
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Hearsay a “statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted” a witness testifying as to what someone else said outside the courtroom violates the Confrontation Clause is allowed in certain, limited circumstances
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Compulsory Process Sixth Amendment an individual shall have “compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor” defendant has the right to obtain witnesses, documents, and other evidence that are required to defend him/herself defendant the right to present witnesses, documents, and other evidence at trial and to present a criminal defense
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Burden of Proof adversarial trial process two components the burden of going forward (or the burden of production) the burden of persuasion a criminal conviction carries serious consequences and that the Government must bear the burden of criminally convicting a defendant and depriving a defendant of his/her liberty Fifth Amendment: “no person... shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself”
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Reasonable Doubt standard of criminal guilt In re Winship: the Due Process Clause “protects the accused from conviction except upon proof beyond a reasonable doubt of every fact necessary to constitute the crime with which he is charged” reasons presumption of innocence false convictions seriousness of criminal convictions community confidence
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Closing Arguments prosecutor then defense then prosecutor Herring v. New York ABA suggested limitations Dunlop v. United States Donnelly v. DeChristoforo invited response doctrine
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Jury Instructions issued the the jury by the judge before the jury begins to discuss the defendant’s guilt or innocence pattern jury instructions attorneys may have some say
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Jury Deliberations jurors are ordinarily provided with copies of the charges and jury instructions the judge may allow jurors to view exhibits that were introduced into evidence “deadlocked” juries reconsideration hung jury Allen or dynamite charge
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Jury Unanimity Sixth Amendment Apodaca v. Oregon Johnson v. Louisiana nonunanimous verdicts Burch v. Louisiana
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Jury Nullification should the jury find a law unfair, they may refuse to find the defendant guilty and vote to acquit juries voting their conscience rather than the law Sparf and Hansen v. United States United States v. Washington United States v. Dougherty can only find guilty defendants not guilty, not vice versa
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Guilty Pleas plea bargains three types reduction or dismissal of certain charges reduction of sentence sentence recommendation benefits criticisms constitutionality withdrawal of plea Hyde v. United States
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