#alternative-verdicts

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fromIndependent
15 hours ago

Brenda Power: Botox behind bars and no jail terms for financial crime - radical ways to shake up our broken prison system

A detective garda who brutally assaulted his wife in front of their young children walked free from court without a custodial sentence, raising serious concerns about justice.
Law
France news
fromThe Local France
1 day ago

French jury upholds jail terms for three rugby players over gang rape

French court upheld prison sentences of up to 14 years for three former rugby players convicted of raping a student in 2017.
fromIndependent
15 hours ago

'He deserved every day he served': Paedophile Pat Salmon (89) dies four months into three-year jail term

Pat Salmon, who was sentenced for the repeated sexual assault of a five-year-old girl, died in the Mater Hospital after serving only four months of his three-year sentence.
London politics
#immigration
US news
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 days ago

US judge rules against deporting man whose murder conviction was overturned after 44 years in prison

A judge may release Subramanyam Vedam, an Indian citizen, after his murder conviction was overturned, despite potential deportation by ICE.
US politics
fromMission Local
2 days ago

Fired judge goes to the border, searching for what he missed on the bench

Jeremiah Johnson, an immigration judge, was fired and chose to explore the U.S.-Mexico border to understand the immigrant experience better.
US news
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 days ago

US judge rules against deporting man whose murder conviction was overturned after 44 years in prison

A judge may release Subramanyam Vedam, an Indian citizen, after his murder conviction was overturned, despite potential deportation by ICE.
US politics
fromMission Local
2 days ago

Fired judge goes to the border, searching for what he missed on the bench

Jeremiah Johnson, an immigration judge, was fired and chose to explore the U.S.-Mexico border to understand the immigrant experience better.
UK news
fromwww.independent.co.uk
2 days ago

Young adults facing life or indeterminate sentences almost doubles in a decade

The number of young adults receiving life sentences has nearly doubled in a decade, raising concerns about their mental health and future prospects.
NYC politics
fromNewsday
2 days ago

Diller verdict: NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch says she's 'deeply disappointed' in shooter's murder acquittal

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch expressed deep disappointment over the jury's verdict acquitting the accused of murder in Det. Jonathan Diller's death.
fromHoodline
3 days ago

Brooklyn judge vacates 1979 rabbi murder conviction

Justice Guy Mangano concluded that new evidence and serious credibility problems with key testimony had so undercut the trial record that the guilty verdict could not stand.
Brooklyn
fromwww.aljazeera.com
2 days ago

US court orders resentencing for Colorado clerk involved in election scheme

The appeals court ruled that a lower court had considered Peters's personal beliefs when deciding upon a punishment, thereby rendering the sentence improper.
US Elections
Social justice
fromwww.amny.com
3 days ago

Op-Ed | Revisiting More Black Male Judges, the Collegial Effect, Public Perceptions and Paths Forward | amNewYork

Increased representation of Black judges leads to fairer judicial outcomes and reduces racial disparities in sentencing.
Washington DC
fromSlate Magazine
3 days ago

They Had to Clean Solitary Cells. What They Saw Forced Them to Quit.

Solitary confinement work is demoralizing and involves invasive strip searches, contributing to severe mental health issues among incarcerated individuals.
SF politics
fromPadailypost
2 days ago

Opinion: A DA shouldn't be using his office this way

Allegations against DA Jeff Rosen suggest unethical fundraising linked to prosecution of pro-Gaza protesters, raising concerns about political neutrality in law enforcement.
NYC LGBT
fromAdvocate.com
3 days ago

How a 'trans panic' defense changed the outcome of two murders

D. F. McLaughlin's murder in 1986 highlights the dangers of transphobia and remains a significant yet overlooked case in the fight for justice.
fromThe Local France
3 days ago

France jails ex-Lido feather artist for rape, assault of minors

The first victim, now 33, said he had dreamt of becoming a dancer when he met de Roo aged 14. He had hoped the artist would guide him after growing up with a depressive mother and absent father. Instead the artist groomed him, the investigation showed.
Paris food
NYC parents
fromwww.amny.com
4 days ago

Criminal case against man shot by cops during mental health crisis will move forward | amNewYork

A Queens man shot by police during a mental health crisis faces criminal charges despite calls for dismissal from his mother and community members.
fromwww.theguardian.com
4 days ago

Prosecutors used hip-hop lyrics to help sentence a man to death: This only happens to rap music'

James Broadnax, who is 37, describes how he writes: 'I've been here umpteen days never forgetting To forget the absence of my fate. Sloppy ciphered sentences become rage, Provoking thoughts into words spoken Across this blank page.'
Music
Canada news
fromwww.cbc.ca
4 days ago

Prosecutors ask Appeal Court to overturn bail for Ontario lawyer in Ryan Wedding case | CBC News

Prosecutors argue an Ontario judge erred in granting bail to a lawyer accused of advising a murder in a drug smuggling case.
SF parents
fromLos Angeles Times
5 days ago

Mom who brutally tortured, killed boy is denied resentencing. Under state law, she can try again

Pearl Fernandez has been denied resentencing for the murder of her son Gabriel for the second time, frustrating his relatives.
#death-penalty
World politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
5 days ago

The Guardian view on Israel's death penalty: capital punishment is always wrong. This new law is doubly so | Editorial

The new Israeli law mandates the death penalty for Palestinians, reinforcing discriminatory practices and potentially constituting a war crime.
World politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
5 days ago

The Guardian view on Israel's death penalty: capital punishment is always wrong. This new law is doubly so | Editorial

The new Israeli law mandates the death penalty for Palestinians, reinforcing discriminatory practices and potentially constituting a war crime.
Philosophy
fromAdvocate.com
4 days ago

The Supreme Court just handed conversion therapy a new license for violence

The Supreme Court's ruling on conversion therapy for minors is a victory for harmful practices disguised as treatment, not free speech.
Podcast
fromSlate Magazine
5 days ago

A Court Settlement Made Me a Millionaire. I've Barely Touched the Money.

Natalie received over a million dollars in a major abuse settlement after being sexually abused by her university gynecologist.
Law
fromAbove the Law
3 days ago

The Price Of Justice And The Promise Of AI - Above the Law

Rising legal service costs and declining access-to-justice funding widen the gap for those needing legal protections, with AI presenting potential solutions.
#ai-in-law
Law
fromwww.npr.org
2 days ago

Penalties stack up as AI spreads through the legal system

Lawyers face increasing sanctions for using AI-generated errors in legal briefs, with over 1,200 cases reported, including significant fines for fictitious citations.
Law
fromwww.npr.org
2 days ago

Penalties stack up as AI spreads through the legal system

Lawyers face increasing sanctions for using AI-generated errors in legal briefs, with over 1,200 cases reported, including significant fines for fictitious citations.
Law
fromAbove the Law
3 days ago

Atlanta Prosecutor Repeatedly Cites Non-Existent Cases To Avoid Murder Retrial - Above the Law

AI hallucinations in legal work are leading to serious issues, including the citation of nonexistent cases by attorneys.
Canada news
fromwww.cbc.ca
4 days ago

Evidence related to 1 of complainants in Stronach sex assault trial 'fatally flawed': judge | CBC News

An Ontario judge found the evidence of a complainant in Frank Stronach's sexual assault trial to be unreliable and fatally flawed.
Law
fromAbove the Law
3 days ago

Morning Docket: 04.02.26 - Above the Law

DOJ has prioritized deporting law-abiding individuals over prosecuting serious criminal cases.
London politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 week ago

Double murderer given whole life order after appeal

A man received a whole life order for killing his pregnant girlfriend after the Court of Appeal deemed his previous sentence unduly lenient.
fromFortune
4 days ago

The quadruple amputee cornholer's shooting was in self-defense, lawyer says | Fortune

The truth here is that he would have been a murder victim if he had not acted immediately in defense of his life, according to defense attorney Andrew Jezic.
US news
fromwww.bbc.com
1 week ago

Plan to scrap most short jail terms comes into effect

Under the reform, courts must stop handing out such short prison terms other than in a number of specific or exceptional circumstances. MPs passed the measure as part of the government's plan to end the population crisis in prisons.
UK news
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 weeks ago

Juries want fairness in court and don't just obey the government. That's why ministers are attacking them | Michael Mansfield

Labour government's proposal to reduce jury trials by half threatens a fundamental democratic institution developed over eight centuries, undermining constitutional safeguards against government excess and arbitrary governance.
London politics
fromIndependent
1 week ago

Five members of Dublin gang jailed for total of 34 years for torture of man 'that bypasses any notion of humanity'

Five gang members received 34 years in prison for torturing Barry Moore, including waterboarding and branding him with a hot iron.
fromABC7 Los Angeles
6 days ago

Judge dismisses charges against two ex-Louisville police officers in Breonna Taylor case

U.S. District Judge Charles Simpson issued a one-page ruling Friday throwing out charges against Joshua Jaynes and Kyle Meany, two former officers involved in crafting the Taylor warrant.
US news
Philosophy
fromAbove the Law
2 weeks ago

You Can't Salvage A Bad Judge By Calling Them Postmodern - Above the Law

Postmodern analysis offers useful concepts for understanding contemporary disenchantment with traditional meaning systems, exemplified by judicial figures like Lawrence VanDyke who adopt unconventional approaches to legal writing.
#criminal-justice
SF parents
fromSan Jose Inside
1 month ago

Court Overturns 2017 Conviction of Morgan Hill Teen's Accused Killer

An appeals court overturned Antolin Garcia Torres's 2012 murder conviction in the Sierra LaMar case, barring prosecutors from using certain legal theories in any retrial.
Law
fromNew York Daily News
2 weeks ago

Brooklyn man accused of jury tampering sentenced after rare anonymous jurors murder trial

A Brooklyn drug dealer was convicted of murder and sentenced to 25 years to life after a fully anonymous jury was used following his attempt to pressure a juror in his first trial.
SF parents
fromSan Jose Inside
1 month ago

Court Overturns 2017 Conviction of Morgan Hill Teen's Accused Killer

An appeals court overturned Antolin Garcia Torres's 2012 murder conviction in the Sierra LaMar case, barring prosecutors from using certain legal theories in any retrial.
Law
fromNew York Daily News
2 weeks ago

Brooklyn man accused of jury tampering sentenced after rare anonymous jurors murder trial

A Brooklyn drug dealer was convicted of murder and sentenced to 25 years to life after a fully anonymous jury was used following his attempt to pressure a juror in his first trial.
Law
fromPoynter
4 days ago

Like journalists, prosecutors shaped a distorted view of crime. They can help fix it, too. - Poynter

Prosecutors and journalists both contribute to misleading public perceptions of crime, but prosecutors possess crucial data to tell a more accurate story.
US politics
fromAbove the Law
2 weeks ago

Morning Docket: 03.18.26 - Above the Law

Chief Justice Roberts calls for ending personal attacks on judges, while questions arise about presidential official acts; meanwhile, legal developments span judicial conduct, cryptocurrency regulation, Section 230 reform, and national security concerns.
#judicial-misconduct
Law
fromAbove the Law
4 days ago

Judge Who Embarrassed Himself With IT Outrburst Doubles Down - Above the Law

Judge Nathan Milliron's behavior has sparked outrage, revealing a pattern of bullying and retaliation against staff and lawyers in the Texas legal community.
Law
fromAbove the Law
4 days ago

Judge Who Embarrassed Himself With IT Outrburst Doubles Down - Above the Law

Judge Nathan Milliron's behavior has sparked outrage, revealing a pattern of bullying and retaliation against staff and lawyers in the Texas legal community.
#restorative-justice
#jury-trial-reform
fromwww.bbc.com
3 weeks ago
UK politics

Thousands of lawyers oppose jury restriction plan

Over 3,200 lawyers and judges oppose government plans to abolish jury trials in certain cases, arguing there is no evidence this will reduce record court backlogs of nearly 80,000 cases.
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 weeks ago
UK politics

Labour lawyers blocked' from briefing MPs on jury trials overhaul before vote

Labour MPs opposing jury trial cuts faced blocked access to legal briefings from affiliated lawyers, with 65 MPs potentially voting against the courts and tribunals bill.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
3 weeks ago

Thousands of lawyers oppose jury restriction plan

Over 3,200 lawyers and judges oppose government plans to abolish jury trials in certain cases, arguing there is no evidence this will reduce record court backlogs of nearly 80,000 cases.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 weeks ago

Labour lawyers blocked' from briefing MPs on jury trials overhaul before vote

Labour MPs opposing jury trial cuts faced blocked access to legal briefings from affiliated lawyers, with 65 MPs potentially voting against the courts and tribunals bill.
Law
fromAbove the Law
4 days ago

Morning Docket: 04.01.26 - Above the Law

Trump is involved in legal matters, including birthright citizenship arguments and a recent criminal conviction.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
3 weeks ago

David Lammy's controversial court reforms supported by MPs after Commons vote

David Lammy's Courts and Tribunals Bill passed its first parliamentary stage despite Labour backbench criticism that victim experiences are being exploited to advance judicial reforms limiting jury trials.
Law
fromLawSites
6 days ago

Survey Finds Majority of Federal Judges Have Used AI in Their Work, But Daily Use Remains Rare

Over 60% of federal judges have used generative AI tools, but few use them regularly in their judicial work.
US news
fromFuturism
2 weeks ago

AI Mistake Throws Innocent Grandmother in Jail for Nearly Six Months

An innocent Tennessee grandmother was arrested and jailed for nearly six months after AI facial recognition misidentified her as a bank fraud suspect in North Dakota, with police failing to verify the algorithm's match before pursuing charges.
NYC politics
fromNew York Post
3 weeks ago

NY's top judge sparks outrage with wild suggestion to go easy when sentencing criminals

New York's Chief Judge Rowan Wilson faced ethics complaints after publicly urging judges to impose lenient sentences and encouraging voters to remove judges who impose lengthy prison terms.
Law
fromBoston.com
5 days ago

Judge denies Lindsay Clancy's request for two-part murder trial

Lindsay Clancy will stand trial in July for allegedly killing her three children, with an insanity defense based on postpartum mental illness.
#judicial-conduct
Law
fromwww.mediaite.com
5 days ago

Get Out of My Courtroom!' Clip of Judge Viciously Berating IT Worker Ignites Trial by Fury on Social Media

A Texas judge faced backlash for berating an IT worker during a courtroom incident, highlighting issues of professionalism and respect in authority.
Law
fromAbove the Law
3 weeks ago

'We Are Better Than This,' Say Ninth Circuit Judges Despite All Evidence To The Contrary - Above the Law

Judge Lawrence VanDyke of the Ninth Circuit has authored inflammatory and unprofessional dissents using crude language and personal attacks against colleagues, contradicting the ABA's initial assessment of his qualifications.
Law
fromwww.mediaite.com
5 days ago

Get Out of My Courtroom!' Clip of Judge Viciously Berating IT Worker Ignites Trial by Fury on Social Media

A Texas judge faced backlash for berating an IT worker during a courtroom incident, highlighting issues of professionalism and respect in authority.
Law
fromAbove the Law
3 weeks ago

'We Are Better Than This,' Say Ninth Circuit Judges Despite All Evidence To The Contrary - Above the Law

Judge Lawrence VanDyke of the Ninth Circuit has authored inflammatory and unprofessional dissents using crude language and personal attacks against colleagues, contradicting the ABA's initial assessment of his qualifications.
Law
fromAbove the Law
6 days ago

Judge Throws IT Worker Out Of Courtroom For Doing His Job - Above the Law

Judges must balance their authority with humility and public service to avoid abusive behavior in courtrooms.
Law
fromAbove the Law
6 days ago

Morning Docket: 03.30.26 - Above the Law

AI associates should not be blamed for failures, raising questions about their necessity.
Law
fromABA Journal
1 week ago

Drug convictions bar lawyer from bench but not from practicing law

Felony drug convictions prevent lawyer from becoming a judge but allow him to continue practicing law in Montana.
Law
fromBoston.com
1 week ago

Why did Kelsey Fitzsimmons choose to have a judge decide her fate?

Kelsey Fitzsimmons is on trial for assault, with her fate decided by Judge Jeffrey T. Karp instead of a jury.
Law
fromsfist.com
1 week ago

Humpday Headlines: Judge Fines SF Public Defender For Turning Down Cases

SF Public Defender Mano Raju is hiring 36 new attorneys while facing contempt for turning down cases due to unmanageable caseloads.
Law
from48 hills
1 week ago

Judge sanctions public defender in case that raises critical issues about criminal justice - 48 hills

Public Defender Mano Raju was fined $26,000 for refusing cases due to overwhelming workloads, highlighting systemic issues in public defense funding.
fromwww.amny.com
1 week ago

Split state Court of Appeals reverses drug-selling conviction, with disagreement over rules of using prior crimes as evidence | amNewYork

The high court found that the two incidents were dissimilar. The 2017 incident involved individual drug possession with intent in Henderson's personal vehicle, while the 2019 incident involved allegedly joint possession in an apartment where four other people were staying.
Law
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 week ago

The Judiciary Is Still Unaccountable, And This Congress Won't Fix It - Above the Law

The Judiciary Accountability Act aims to extend anti-discrimination protections to judiciary employees, promoting transparency and accountability in the judicial system.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 week ago

AI Didn't Replace Legal Judgment. It Exposed How Little We Teach It. - Above the Law

AI is not replacing legal judgment; it reveals gaps in how judgment is taught in legal education.
Artificial intelligence
fromFuturism
2 months ago

Court System Says Hallucinating AI System Is Ready to Be Deployed After Dramatically Lowering Expectations

Alaska's probate chatbot hallucinated facts, gave incorrect legal guidance, and annoyed users with cloying sympathy instead of providing reliable help.
#mistrial
UK news
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 month ago

Secret prison documents shows government plan to tackle IPP scandal will fail

At least 520 people serving abolished IPP sentences are projected to remain incarcerated in March 2030, leaving many indefinitely detained despite abolition.
#wrongful-conviction
Law
fromBoston.com
2 weeks ago

Chelsea man released decades after murder conviction won't be retried, prosecutors say

Suffolk County prosecutors dropped charges against Thomas Rosa Jr. after 34 years in prison, citing new DNA evidence, lost evidence, and changes in case law that dismantled their case against him.
Law
fromwww.amny.com
2 weeks ago

Quarter-century old Brooklyn murder conviction reversed, defense says new evidence shows witness lied on stand, police misconduct | amNewYork

Anthony Sims' murder conviction was reversed after 27 years in prison due to prosecutorial misconduct and false witness testimony that pointed to another suspect as the actual perpetrator.
Law
fromBoston.com
2 weeks ago

Chelsea man released decades after murder conviction won't be retried, prosecutors say

Suffolk County prosecutors dropped charges against Thomas Rosa Jr. after 34 years in prison, citing new DNA evidence, lost evidence, and changes in case law that dismantled their case against him.
Law
fromwww.amny.com
2 weeks ago

Quarter-century old Brooklyn murder conviction reversed, defense says new evidence shows witness lied on stand, police misconduct | amNewYork

Anthony Sims' murder conviction was reversed after 27 years in prison due to prosecutorial misconduct and false witness testimony that pointed to another suspect as the actual perpetrator.
fromwww.independent.co.uk
2 months ago

New hope for prisoners under indefinite jail terms as five cases referred for appeal

The open-ended sentences, which were scrapped in 2012 and have been described as psychological torture by the UN, have left thousands trapped in jail for up to 22 times longer than their original tariff. This includes many who were children at the time of their offence and handed a type of IPP sentence for under-18s called a Detention for Public Protection (DPP) jail term.
UK news
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 weeks ago

The Rule Of Law Joins America's Dead Pets On The Rainbow Bridge - Above the Law

Trump attorney John Lauro claimed the DOJ improved under Attorney General Pam Bondi, contradicting legal observers who view current conditions as a constitutional crisis threatening prosecutorial independence.
US politics
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

The Perp Walk Is The Point - Above the Law

The Justice Department sought to publicize an image of Don Lemon in handcuffs while prosecuting protesters and attempted to suppress public docket records.
fromAbove the Law
3 weeks ago

Lawyer Convicted Of Systematic Sexual Abuse Of Children - Above the Law

Bishop was found guilty on 24 counts of committing lewd acts on three minor victims, all described in court documents as victims under the age of 14. The span of these offenses covers multiple years. Evidence admitted at trial showed that Bishop possessed more than 600 images of child sexual abuse material depicting two of the minor victims.
Law
US news
fromwww.ocregister.com
2 months ago

Misconduct by prosecution leads to reprieve for California killer once sentenced to life in prison

A state prisoner will be released in about five years after a 1988 murder case was compromised by prosecutorial misconduct, resulting in a reduced sentence.
US politics
fromThe Mercury News
2 months ago

Letters: Renee Good slaying should go before a judge and jury

Law enforcement and political leaders must be held accountable for abuses of power, injustice, and failures to protect rights and democratic institutions.
Law
fromKqed
3 weeks ago

Why So Many Legal Courts in S.F.? | KQED

San Francisco concentrates multiple levels of state and federal courts in one location, including Superior Court, U.S. District Court, Court of Appeals, and California Supreme Court, which is unusual compared to other states where courts are typically dispersed across state capitals or larger cities.
fromwww.npr.org
2 months ago

Judge rules Luigi Mangione should not face death penalty

On Friday a federal judge dropped two of the four charges against Luigi Mangione the man accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson making his case no longer eligible for the death penalty. Mangione is accused of killing Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024 on a street in midtown Manhattan as he was walking to his hotel for UnitedHealth Group's annual investor conference.
US news
Law
fromwww.amny.com
1 month ago

Op-Ed | The disappearance of the criminal jury trial | amNewYork

Federal criminal trials have nearly disappeared, with fewer than 3% of cases going to trial compared to 20% in the mid-20th century, undermining the integrity of the criminal justice system.
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

The Human Cost Of Our Broken Justice System - Above the Law

Drawing from years in public defense and her work co-founding Partners for Justice, she explains why the criminal legal system often punishes instability rather than crime - and how policy choices, not individual morality, frequently determine who enters the system.
Law
Law
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

Court system on 'brink of collapse', former senior judge warns

Criminal court system faces collapse due to unprecedented Crown Court trial backlogs, requiring comprehensive, immediate reforms rather than selective measures.
Law
fromPadailypost
2 months ago

Jurors hear closing arguments in Stanford protester trial

Five students are on trial accused of conspiring to occupy the Stanford president's office, causing over $300,000 in property damage during a June protest.
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