Criminal Law

Blind Strikes and Double Strikes
Anne Reed writes at Deliberations about blind strikes: In a “blind strike” voir dire, both sides exercise their strikes simultaneously. If you get four strikes, you strike four jurors, without knowing (until it’s over) whether your opponent struck those same jurors too...

Three-strikes bill killed in committee
By a 25-16 vote, the Judiciary Committee voted against one three-strikes proposal today. The bill called for mandatory life sentence for third time offenders. Opponents said the revamped three-strikes-and-you’re-out proposal was deceiving because it would not automatically require a life sentence for a third violent offense...

Three-strikes, prison overcrowding back before Judiciary Committee
Not satisfied with the harsh penalties enacted by the special session of the legislature in February, we once again embark on a discussion of “true” three-strikes laws. There are four separate proposals before the Judiciary Committee to create a three-strikes and you’re out law and there are several bills dealing with prison overcrowding, inmate services [...

Threes strikes laws - the Ohio proposal
Over the next few months, we’ll find out if Chevonne Ecclestone and Todd Torok are going to become the Polly Klaas and Richard Allen Davis of Ohio.  As I discussed last week, Klaas was the little 12-year-old girl whose kidnap, rape, and murder by Davis led to the enactment of California’s three strikes law back in [...

When Monomania Strikes
NPR was the tip-off. “What is up with those morons?” I thought as I sped past Scotts Valley and into the Santa Cruz Mountains on my way to Santa Clara. The traffic was light, and I was ahead of schedule...

High Court, 5-4, Strikes Down ‘Millionaires Amendment’
High Court, 5-4, Strikes Down ‘Millionaires Amendment’ :: Davis v. Federal Election Commission :: Analysis: Court Blows a Hole in Effective Public Financing Plans