Punch and Jurists

U.S. v. Velazquez, No. 14-10311 (9th Cir.) (855 F.3d 1021) (May 1, 2017) (Judge Michelle T. Friedland) by If any reader wants to understand some the many evils of a typical, Federal drug conspiracy prosecution, then this decision by Judge Friedland is a good decision to read. It shows how …

U.S. v. Gustin, No. 10-2761 (7th Cir.) (642 F.3d 573) (June 7, 2011) (Judge Frank H. Easterbrook) by The defendant in this case, an inmate at a Federal prison, was convicted of the attempted murder of another inmate. His defense at trial was that he did not attack the victim, …

Bell v. Miller, No. 05-5235-pr (2nd Cir.) (500 F.3d 149) (August 31, 2007) (Judge Dennis G. Jacobs) by For a summary of this decision, see "Conviction Upset Over Defense Failure to Test Victim's Memory," by Mark Hamblett, New York Law Journal, September 5, 2007, as follows: "A defense lawyer was …

Wiggins v.Smith, No. 02-311 (U.S. Supreme Court) (539 U.S. 510; 123 S.Ct. 2527) (June 26, 2003) (Justice O'Connor) by The petitioner in this case, Kevin Wiggins, who was once diagnosed as “borderline mentally retarded,” was convicted in 1989 of the murder of a 77 year-old woman who was found drowned …

Wiggins v. Corcoran, No. 01-23 (4th Cir.) (288 F.3d 629) (May 2, 2002) (Judge H. Emory Jr. Widener) by The defendant in this case was convicted in state court, following a bench trial, of murder, robbery, and theft. A jury then sentenced defendant to death. The judgment and conviction were …